A total of 105 dog transports were checked at the border station on the Öresund Bridge and at the ferry berths in Helsingborg, Ystad and Trelleborg for a few days last year.

Twelve percent had such serious deficiencies that they had to turn around at the border and go back.

The County Administrative Board, which carried out the inspections, now states that the number of dogs brought across the border is much larger than previously thought.

Most smugglers chose the bridge

And the controls confirmed that picture.

- We came across both pure dog smuggling and private individuals who did not have the required documents in order, says Sonia Ögren Kull, animal welfare inspector at the County Administrative Board in Skåne.

Most smuggling attempts were discovered at the Öresund Bridge.

- Most smugglers take that route because they hope to be able to slip through the Swedish Customs' controls like a car in the crowd.

At the ferry berths, the controls become more organized in connection with the boats arriving at certain times, says Sonia Ögren Kull.

Risk of rabies

Why is it so wrong to bring in dogs illegally?

- The risk increases that we get rabies in the country.

In addition, the dogs often get sick, small puppies can not sit in a car for maybe a couple of days without food and rest.

They do not always survive.

Last year, the Swedish Customs also stopped a record number of smuggled dogs - see more in the clip below:

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The puppy in the picture was part of a dog transport from Hungary that was stopped at Lernacken.

It was malnourished and dehydrated and killed by decision of the veterinarian.

Photo: Swedish Customs