One of the 15 dogs that was stopped by customs has had to be killed as it was in very poor condition.

The rest of the dogs are on a farm in northern Skåne waiting for a decision.

The dog transporter was arrested at the time, suspected of gross smuggling, but was later released.

- The right document is available for the dogs and that is probably why the carrier was released.

The problem is that the dogs have been sampled and are not vaccinated against rabies or do not have rabies antibodies, says county veterinarian Leif Felton.

"They thought I was dead"

Robert Maresch, who transported the dogs, is upset about the way the customs handled the case.

- At the bridge I was taken in for control.

That in itself is not so strange as it is their job, but in my opinion, major abuses have been committed, both with my arrest and the care of the dogs, says Maresch.

Robert Maresch's mobile phone was confiscated and according to him no one wanted to inform his family that he had been arrested.

- I asked them countless times to call home so that my mother and family would find out what happened to me.

They did not know what had happened and thought I had been in an accident and died.

Freed from suspicion

Håkan Hansson, deputy head of unit at customs, thinks that it is unfortunate that the family could not be contacted but that it is necessary for investigative reasons.

- When he is arrested, certain restrictions come into force.

We can not let him make calls that could affect the investigation.

We also do not contact the family as we can not be sure that it is the number of a family member we get, it could also complicate the investigation.

In retrospect, the criminal suspicions against the carrier have been written off.

Unclear what happens to the dogs

The future of dogs is unclear and it is still uncertain when a final decision will be made.

- The killing has not been carried out, but the decision has not really been changed by the administrative court, although it may do so.

It can take weeks or months before we get a decision from there, says Leif Felton.

The carrier Robert Maresch is still considered the owner of the dogs and is the one who most recently appealed the county administrative board's decision on killing.