In 2020, 280 dogs were stopped at customs, the following year the figure was 523 and in 2022 it was 552. Last year the number was down to 280 again.
"We still stop dogs at the border because they have incorrect documents. It could be stray dogs or dogs that need to be quarantined or reported in some other way," says Håkan Hansson.
"But the pure smuggling, where people try to use forged documents and so on, has basically stopped. It feels great," he says.
Born in Sweden
Now a new survey from the Swedish Kennel Club shows that more and more dogs in Sweden are also born here. Today, 91 percent are born in Sweden. In a corresponding survey in 2024, the figure was 87 percent.
Overall, demand for dogs is decreasing, but the market share for dogs bred in Sweden is increasing, explains the Swedish Kennel Club's press officer, Janina Pfalzer.
She describes how the organization, when smuggling was at its most extensive, eventually "blew up".
"We were involved in various collaborations with authorities and tried to inform people about this problem. And nothing happened and nothing happened. In the end we got angry and said that now we demand punishment for those who do this."
New legislation
Since then, a new investigation has suggested that animal health workers should be required to report any suspected illegal importation of animals. New EU legislation will also make it easier to trace the origin of dogs.
"We are very positive that it is proposed that veterinarians and other animal health care personnel be given the opportunity to report suspected illegal importation, both for the sake of the dogs and so that animal health care personnel do not have to risk contracting rabies at work."
Of the dogs stopped by Customs last year, three were euthanized. In both 2020 and 2021, 86 dogs had to be euthanized.
Håkan Hansson remembers the worst years of the pandemic all too well.
"I am an animal lover myself and I want the best for dogs and puppies. There were people who were deceived and bought dogs that were sometimes sick and full of worms. It was really, really miserable when it was at its worst."
In 2020, 280 dogs were stopped, 86 of them were euthanized
In 2021, 523 were stopped and 86 were euthanized
In 2022, 552 dogs were stopped, 114 of which came with people fleeing Ukraine. Of the dogs stopped, 61 had to be euthanized.
Source: Swedish Customs
