The dogs from the puppy factories in Eastern Europe are pushed into cramped spaces and smuggled to Sweden.
The Swedish Customs is now sounding the alarm:
– The only way to stop this is for no one to buy them, says Jonas Karlsson at the Swedish Customs.
More and more people have wanted to buy a dog during the pandemic, at the same time as the supply of Swedish dog breeders does not correspond to the increased demand.
This has led to a sharp increase in the number of dogs smuggled to Sweden.
Because of this, the Swedish Customs, the Swedish Environmental Crime Agency and the Swedish Tax Agency are now going out and sounding the alarm to warn about the illegal animal trade.
– It is about a ruthless handling of living beings. The risks to society are that they bring rabies into the country. Then the dogs get very ill. This is life we are talking about here, says Jonas Karlsson, expert at the Swedish Customs.
Raised in puppy factories
As early as 2019, the Swedish Customs saw that smuggling dogs became more common and a total of 210 dogs were stopped that year. Since then, the increase has pointed sharply upwards. Last year, 523 dogs were stopped by the Swedish Customs.
This year, too, the alarming trend looks set to continue. In many cases, the dogs come from so-called puppy factories in Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, the Balkans and Lithuania.
– The only purpose of the so-called puppy factories is that bitches give birth to puppies which are then sold. A veterinarian is often involved in the business to make it look legitimate, says Jonas Karlsson.
“The only way to stop this is for no one to buy them”
It is common for the animals to be transported in larger vehicles driving into Sweden. For the most part, the dogs are hidden in very cramped spaces and when the Swedish Customs finds them, they are often very bad at it.
– They are in their own feces, their fur is matted, they have not received food and water for a long time and they are exhausted. The way they are transported, in cramped, cramped spaces, is a suffering for the dogs, says Jonas Karlsson.
How to stop the illegal animal trade?
– The only way to stop this is for no one to buy them. It’s that simple, then there is no business and then you put it down, says Jonas Karlsson.
Criminal to buy a smuggled dog
Those who smuggle dogs range from non-profit associations and individual individuals to organized criminal gangs that also smuggle drugs and weapons, according to the Swedish Customs.
– The organized leagues have noticed that you can make big money on this. You bring the dogs here for cheap money and you sell them for a lot of money, says Jonas Karlsson.
He says that it is also a crime to buy a dog that has been smuggled into Sweden – something that can lead to imprisonment.
– You can be convicted and punished for illegal possession of contraband, as it is called. That one should have known that the dog has been introduced illegally. You can get imprisoned for that, says Jonas Karlsson.
This should be considered before buying a dog
Miia Vuolama, crime prevention specialist at the Swedish Environmental Crime Agency, says that there are several things to look for before buying a dog.
All dogs born in Sweden must be registered in a dog register with the Swedish Board of Agriculture. The dogs’ mothers are also registered there.
When it comes to smuggling dogs, the dog’s paperwork has often been falsified with the help of a foreign veterinarian.
– It is very important that you check that the dog has all the paperwork and that they are in order. You should not make this eager purchase, let it take some time. You need to control both the dog and the dog’s mother, she says.
Another thing you can do is visit the family that sells the dog before taking it home.
– Meet the dog in its natural environment, with the dog’s mother, and check it out too. Then we think you get a bit on the road, says Miia Vuolama.
Lists new actions
The Swedish Customs, the Swedish Environmental Crime Agency and the Swedish Tax Agency have presented a list of measures that they hope will reduce illegal animal smuggling.
Among other things, they believe that businesses that work with dogs should be controlled by the Swedish Tax Agency. They also propose that collaboration between the Swedish Customs, the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the County Administrative Board should be increased.
Another proposal is for veterinarians to be able to report if they suspect that a dog has been smuggled – something they cannot do today.