Frankie The Law Dog

Learn the legal requirements for taking your pet with you on a trip from the United States to Sweden.

Traveling to Sweden With Your Dog

International travel can be tricky when you want to take your pets along.  Traveling internationally with one’s pet requires some advance planning because different countries have different health and documentation requirements for animals entering from elsewhere. 

The United States is considered a country in which an effective rabies control system is in place.  This fact makes traveling to European Union member countries a bit easier because, as long as one has the appropriate documentation, the animal will not need to be quarantined before it is allowed to enter the country. 

This article addresses Sweden’s laws for pet immigration.

You Must Enter With Your Pet Through Stockholm or Gothenburg

In planning your trip to Sweden with your dog, it is important to note that animals from the United States and other “listed” non-EU countries may be brought into the country only through the airports Stockholm-Arlanda or Gothenburg-Landvetter. 

The Dog Must Have a Microchip or Tattoo

To enter Sweden, your dog must be identified by either a permanent tattoo or by a microchip of ISO standard 134.2 kHz.  The tattoo or microchip must be applied by a veterinarian and the identity number must be included in all the pet’s documentation, including the veterinary certificat or the pet passport.  Note that beginning in 2011, EU member countries will recognize only microchips for identifying animals traveling from overseas.

Most pets in the United States currently have a microchip with a radio-frequency of 125 kHz.  Therefore, if you plan to travel to Sweden or another EU member country, check with your veterinarian about having a microchip of ISO standard applied.

The Dog Must be Vaccinated Against Rabies and Tapeworm

In order to enter Sweden, your dog must have the basic vaccination against rabies.  The rabies vaccination must be given when the dog is at least three months old.  After the vaccination, the dog must be checked to ensure it has produced sufficient antibodies against rabies.

Additionally, the dog must be dewormed by a veterinarian against the tapeworm Echinococcus.  The deworming must be noted by the veterinarian on the veterinary certificate or pet passport.

You Must Obtain a Veterinary Certificate

Before you travel to Sweden with your dog, have your veterinarian complete a veterinary certificate stating the animal’s identity number, dates of vaccination, rabies antibody analysis and deworming.  Bring the veterinary certificate as well as the vaccination certificates and the blood test results with you when you travel to Sweden.

Forms for the veterinary certificate may be found on the website of the Swedish Board of Agriculture.  If your dog is able to travel with you in the airplane, the veterinary certificate for pet animals should be used. 

However, if your pet is too large to ride on the plane with you, it may have to travel as cargo.  If the animal must travel as cargo without a person to accompany it, a veterinary certificate for trade animals must be used.  Those forms are also available on the website of the Swedish Board of Agriculture.  Pets that are considered trade animals must be seen by a veterinarian no more than 24 hours prior to departure for Sweden in order to be permitted into the country. 

Animals that are considered trade animals must also be inspected by a veterinarian upon arrival with the inspection taking place at one of the border inspection posts.  Arrange for the inspection at least one business day prior to arrival.  The contact information for the border inspection posts is available on the Board of Agriculture website.

With a little advance planning, you will find that traveling with your dog to Sweden is not as daunting a prospect as it may seem.  The requirements are fairly simple for animals traveling into Sweden from the United States.  And once in Sweden, you will find it to be a very dog-friendly place to visit with your dog in tow.

Could One Face Criminal Animal Cruelty Charges for Denying Medical Treatment to a Sick Dog?

Animal Cruelty Charges Arise from Refusing to Obtain Veteriary Care

In a recent case, a man in Tampa, Florida was arrested and charged with animal cruelty for allowing his two dogs to suffer life-threatening injury and disease and then refusing to obtain appropriate medical treatment for them. 

One of the dogs was struck by a car and injured, but the man failed to seek veterinary care for its wounds even after being advised by a doctor that the dog needed treatment.  The other dog was suffering from a potentially fatal uterine disease; however, the man refused to get care and treatment for her, resulting in the dog growing emaciated. 

The dogs were reported as being abandoned.  Following an investigation, the man, Peyman Boroujeni, was charged with two counts of third-degree cruelty to animals under Florida law.

Florida’s Felony Animal Cruelty Law

The crime with which Boroujeni was charged is third-degree felony cruelty to animals under section 828.12(2), Florida Statutues.  The statute provides:

A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, is guilty of a felony of the third degree.

Florida courts have emphasized that felony animal cruelty requires an intent to commit the act that results in the cruel death or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering.  The crime does not require an intent to cause the death or suffering, only the intent to commit the act that results in the death or unnecessary suffering of the animal. 

Accordingly, in order to convict a defendant of third-degree cruelty to animals in Florida, it is not necessary to prove that the man intended for the dogs to suffer.  The prosecution must merely prove that he intended to do the act (refusing to get medical treatment) that resulted in their unnecessary suffering.

Mere negligent behavior that results in the death or unnecessary suffering of an animal amounts to a first degree misdemeanor under section 828.12(1), Florida Statutes.

Third-degree cruelty to animals is punishable in Florida by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Disclaimer:  This article is in no way intended as legal advice.  For help with specific legal issues surrounding Florida’s animal cruelty laws, or the laws in your jurisdiction, please contact an attorney in your local area.

Traveling Internationally With Your Dog

If you are planning on traveling to another country with your dog, it is best to do some careful homework well prior to your planned trip.  Most countries have very specific rules concerning pet immigration.  Making advance arrangements and checking out the laws of the country of destination will help avoid problems when you try to take your pet abroad.

Create a Pet Passport for Your Dog Prior to Traveling Internationally

Create a Pet Passport So You Don't Have to Leave Your Dog Behind When You Travel

A pet passport is a set of all identifying and health-related documents the destination country requires for pets to enter the country.  Again, different countries have different requirements concerning what is demanded.  But travelers who do not have all their pet’s documentation in order may end up having their pet placed in quarantine upon arrival in the destination country.  

For members of the general public traveling outside the United States with pets, the U.S. Department of State recommends the following:

• Contact the appropriate embassy in Washington to confirm the destination country’s entry requirements.  Some embassies will provide forms in English for your veteranarian to complete.  Note that some countries do not permit pets to enter at all and others mandate quarantine in all instances. 
• Review the list of International Animal Export Regulations compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 
• Check the destination country’s requirements to see how close to departure any required veterinary examination, vaccinations and tests must be scheduled. 
• Arrange with your veterinarian to have the required vaccinations and certifications completed within the specified time period.

Pet Travel provides pet passport, immigration and quarantine information on more than 100 different countries and is an excellent resource for people wishing to take their dogs along when they see the world.

Additional Resources:  Visit Dog-Friendly Rotterdam in The Netherlands; Visit Dog-Friendly Gothenburg, Sweden

Military service members who get deployed often face the harsh prospect of having to give up their pets simply because there is nobody at home to take care of them while the service member is away. 

For those of us whose pets are very much part of our hearts and families, this seems unthinkable.  Our military personnel already sacrifice so much to serve the country.  They should at least be able to look forward to being reunited with their best friends when they return home again.

Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet (or “GASP”) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization whose mission is to support “military service members, veterans, and their beloved pets to ensure the pets are reunited with their owners following deployment or emergency hardship.”  Toward that end, GASP has established three programs:

• The Foster Home Program provides an “alternative to the unwanted surrender of beloved pets of our deploying service members.”  The group has a network of volunteers all over the country who open their homes to provide a loving and healthy environment for the pets until they can be reunited with their owners.  This program is provided at no cost to the military service member. 
• The Military Pet Assistance Program assists those involved as foster pet parents through the Foster Home Program.  When funds are available, the program will also assist military service members, military spouses and veterans facing emergency hardships.
• The Military & Veterans Pet Sanctuary Project is working toward setting up facilities throughout the country to provide temporary shelter for pets until a foster home can be found. 

Anyone interested in fostering a pet, contributing or volunteering in some other fashion will find all the information they need at the group’s website.