The Manx National Farmers’ Union has welcomed government moves towards improving the laws on livestock protection.
However, it has hit out at the delays up until now.
But it says it is “keen” to work with the government to ensure the new laws are prioritised.
Yesterday, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture announced it was teaming up with the police to lok at ways to strengthen the law.
It follows sustained campaigning from farmers over a number of years.
A spokesperson for the MNFU said: “The delays while the IoM Government has not progressed the matter has effectively permitted irresponsible and negligent dog owners to continue to allow their dogs to injure or kill livestock, causing widespread suffering, stress and damage.”
Campaign
They added: “The MNFU has continually campaigned on this matter for many years and considers it to be an animal and farmer welfare priority.
“Approximately four years ago we began to survey farms to assess the ongoing impacts and evidence the amount of cases that were occurring on island.
“We also worked with the Chief Veterinary Officer who was keen to progress improved protection for livestock, and we consulted with the police who were similarly interested in being better resourced to be able to gather evidence of these incidents and pursue offenders.”
Legislation
The MNFU said it drafted “legislative comparisons” with both Scotland and England for consideration and continued its work on reporting issues and surfveying farmers, as well as consulting dog owners and farmers last year.
Much of this work was being done while the new draft bill on livestock worrying in the UK – now the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 – was being progressed by Therese Coffey (House of Lords) and Aphra Brandreth MP and considered by the UK’s Conservative Government.
“This went on hold when Labour won the election,” said the MNFU.
“However since then the UK Government have progressed and passed the Act.”
But they added: “The Isle of Man in the meantime has not progressed anything, despite our efforts and that of the CVO.”
Strong Support for Tougher Laws
The MNFU says the results of a summer consultation, which showed the public was in favour of tougher protection laws, were “reassuring”.
“It is clear that there is strong support for better updated laws and penalties to protect livestock,” the spokesperson added.
“The declaration by the current minister and department member that they recognise this and will now push to progress a strengthening of protection for livestock and more significant punishment for dog owners as a deterrent is definitely very welcome.
“We are keen to work with the department on this matter to ensure that it remains a priority and progresses as swiftly as possible.”
