The trade in illegally imported puppies is booming: in Eastern Europe in particular, puppies are born in appalling conditions, separated from their mothers far too early and smuggled illegally to Western Europe with forged documents. Trendy breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs and Chihuahuas are being mass-produced and advertised on online platforms across Europe. These puppies are often weak, sick, infested with parasites and unvaccinated.
When is a puppy allowed to enter Austria?
Bringing dogs – particularly puppies – into Austria from abroad is subject to strict legal regulations. For a dog to be allowed to enter Austria legally, certain requirements must be met. These also depend on whether the dog is travelling from one EU Member State to another, entering the EU from a third country, or simply transiting through the EU.
The requirements include, amongst other things:
- a valid EU pet passport
- a valid rabies vaccination (at least 21 days old)
- clear identification (microchip)
- where applicable, a veterinary health certificate when entering from non-EU countries.
Some holidaymakers want to ‘rescue’ stray dogs or spontaneously take an animal home from local markets – particularly puppies. But beware: a puppy that is only a few weeks old usually cannot meet the legal requirements for legal entry. So-called ‘street sales’, as are common in some holiday destinations, often fail to meet animal welfare standards and are in many cases considered illegal animal trading.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Animals coming directly from third countries cannot have an EU pet passport. These passports can and may only be issued within the EU by authorised vets. You can find
the exact requirements on the website of the Federal Office for Consumer Health.
Information on the illegal trade in puppies can be found on the Ministry of Health’s website
Illegal puppy trafficking poses a risk to human and animal health
The illegal puppy trade not only causes animal suffering, but can also have drastic consequences for human health: many of the diseases that dogs may carry are also transmissible to humans.
The best-known of these is undoubtedly rabies: it is fatal to humans unless treated in time. Dogs may therefore only be brought into Austria if they have a valid pet passport in which both a valid rabies vaccination and a serological rabies test are recorded.
Then there is brucellosis: the disease occurs worldwide, particularly in the Mediterranean region, but also in Eastern Europe. It causes flu-like symptoms, often with evening spikes in temperature of up to 40 °C and profuse sweating. Without treatment, it can lead to a chronic condition with recurring bouts of fever. Even asymptomatic dogs can transmit the pathogen to humans and other pets.
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by infection with Leishmania, single-celled parasites transmitted via the bite of infected sand flies. In Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, numerous new endemic areas have emerged in recent years, such as in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and southern Hungary. Leishmaniasis can only be transmitted to humans by a sand fly that has previously bitten an infected animal. The import of infected dogs from endemic areas increases the risk of humans and other dogs becoming infected. Due to climate change, sand flies can now survive in Austria at higher temperatures. In dogs, leishmaniasis often leads to hair loss, particularly around the eyes, ears and nose. The dog loses weight and may develop kidney failure. In humans, skin lesions may occur, but the parasites can also affect internal organs, most commonly the spleen, liver and bone marrow.