At the end of June, customs authorities stopped a Bulgarian minibus for inspection on the A1 in Upper Austria. During the search, two puppies were found and the passenger handed out pet ID cards for them. However, upon closer inspection, the customs officers found four more puppies in the vehicle between pieces of furniture.
The vehicle’s occupants, two Macedonian citizens aged 24 and 28, had transported the young dogs under the most adverse conditions. Some of the puppies were housed in boxes that were far too small, others were crammed into one box. One of the dogs was transported in two plastic crates that were only loosely connected with ropes. Five of the dogs were poodle mixes and the sixth was a Maltese.
“This operation shows the crucial role of the Austrian customs office not only in protecting Austria’s financial interests, but also in its commitment to animal protection. I am proud of our customs officers, whose attentive actions give six young dogs a new chance,” said Finance Minister Magnus Brunner.
When questioned about the origin and destination of the puppies, the 28-year-old passenger stated that he had gotten the dogs from a friend in Bulgaria and was taking them to a buyer in Germany. He stated that he had last provided the puppies with water in Hungary. The buyer stated on the phone that he had ordered and purchased the dogs from an official website, but did not name the website.
The customs officers notified the veterinary service of the Linz-Land district administration. The puppies and their pet ID cards were confiscated from the two men and a provisional security deposit of 3,000 euros was collected. The puppies were handed over to the ICARA animal rescue and are now being looked after at the Linz animal shelter.
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