Imported stray dogs causes health risk
Photo: Anne-Mette Kirkemo.
Some serious contagious diseases are rare or non-existent in Norway. Imported dogs, especially street dogs, can bring these diseases to Norway. In many European countries these diseases are more commonplace.
It is very important to keep level of cases of serious contagious diseases in dogs in Norway as low as possible. Leptospirosis, Rabies, Leishmaniosis and some diseases transmitted by ticks are among the diseases that are very rare or non-existant in Norway. Some of these diseases even pose a threath to human health.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority advice against importing stray dogs from Europe. They encourage animal-lovers who want to help to support local organizations working for animal welfare or adopt Norwegian dogs in need of a home. The National Veterinary Institute support this view.
Contact at the National Veterinary Institute
Researcher Arve Lund
E-mail: arve.lund@vetinst.no
