As SVT reported this spring, demand for dogs from breeders has increased sharply during the corona pandemic. The reason is that many have considered that they have time with a dog when they may have been laid off from work or worked from home.

Rogue actors

But when dog breeders cannot deliver what the market demands, the risk for rogue players also increases. The national Collaborative Group for Dog Welfare, which includes the Swedish Board of Agriculture, now warns that the illegal trade in dogs risks increasing. Every year, the Swedish Board of Agriculture handles about 300 cases of dogs being brought into the country with incomplete documentation.

- But we believe that there is a large number of unreported cases, says Erik Ringström who works as an infection control officer at the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

Dogs that do not have the right paper can be rejected at the border, quarantined or, in the worst case, killed.

Many of the smuggled dogs have been treated badly. Photo: SVT

Raised in puppy factories

Many popular breeds, such as the French bulldog, are bred at something resembling puppy factories. Here the puppies are separated early from their mothers, which can lead to behavioral disorders. The risk that they will also carry infectious diseases is also considered high.

Some dogs are also sold through non-profit organizations, even these animals can carry diseases and have behavioral disorders. In many countries, mediating dogs to non-profit organizations, which then sell the dogs on to Sweden, has become a way to make money.

It is common for these dogs to lack the necessary vaccinations and have fake passports and papers. Bringing such a dog into Sweden can be punished with a fine. Anyone who does so also risks animal and public health in the country because we can get infectious diseases.

- Rabies is a deadly disease and we do not want it in Sweden, says Erik Ringstöm.