Police in east London are investigating after two dogs attacked a horse in Havering Park Woods on 20 March, resulting in the horse being euthanized due to fatal injuries. The horse’s rider, a woman in her 30s, was thrown from the animal and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The Metropolitan Police seized the two dogs involved, which remain in custody, but no arrests have been made yet. Authorities are appealing for information from the public to assist with their ongoing inquiries.

This incident occurred shortly after new legislation, the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill, came into force, increasing penalties for livestock worrying from a maximum £1,000 fine to an unlimited fine. The law explicitly includes horses as livestock and applies to incidents on roads and paths. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, dog owners are legally required to keep their animals under control at all times in public and private spaces.