Police in South Iceland and local veterinary authorities put down a cat which had been smuggled into Iceland by foreign travellers. The travellers, had hid the cat on board their RV as they arrived on the Smiril Line ferry Norröna which sails between Iceland and Denmark. Very strict rules govern the importation of live animals into Iceland.
Police tracked down the cat, put it down
The travellers arrived with the ferry in the town of Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland on Tuesday. Soon after their arrival locals became aware that there was a cat onboard the RV. On Friday a veterinarian in the town of Höfn in South East Iceland contacted the chief veterinarian in East Iceland to inform him that he knew the travellers had brought a cat with them, requesting advice on how to proceed.
Read more: April 3 marks the 33rd anniversary of Reykjavík lifting its ban on dogs in the city
Icelandic law has very strict rules governing the import of live animals. It is strictly forbidden to import most farm animals, and pets must be quarantined before they are allowed into the country. Pet owners who wish to bring their pets with them must apply for a permit and fill out extensive paperwork. The law states that animals which are imported in violation of this law must be put down immediately and their carcasses then destroyed.
The chief veterinarian of East Iceland therefore instructed his colleague in Höfn to contact the police. The local news site Vísir reports that Police in South Iceland had located the RV within two hours and found the cat. The cat was then put down shortly thereafter by order of the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority.
Owner arrested, RV sterilized
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reports that the owner of the cat, a Swiss woman, was then arrested on Saturday evening. The RV was also sterilized on orders of the Food and Veterinary Authority. The woman will be charged for the cost of sterilizing the RV, putting down of the cat and the disposal of its carcass. She will likely face further fines for her violation of Icelandic law.
Police in South Iceland and local veterinary authorities put down a cat which had been smuggled into Iceland by foreign travellers. The travellers, had hid the cat on board their RV as they arrived on the Smiril Line ferry Norröna which sails between Iceland and Denmark. Very strict rules govern the importation of live animals into Iceland.
Police tracked down the cat, put it down
The travellers arrived with the ferry in the town of Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland on Tuesday. Soon after their arrival locals became aware that there was a cat onboard the RV. On Friday a veterinarian in the town of Höfn in South East Iceland contacted the chief veterinarian in East Iceland to inform him that he knew the travellers had brought a cat with them, requesting advice on how to proceed.
Read more: April 3 marks the 33rd anniversary of Reykjavík lifting its ban on dogs in the city
Icelandic law has very strict rules governing the import of live animals. It is strictly forbidden to import most farm animals, and pets must be quarantined before they are allowed into the country. Pet owners who wish to bring their pets with them must apply for a permit and fill out extensive paperwork. The law states that animals which are imported in violation of this law must be put down immediately and their carcasses then destroyed.
The chief veterinarian of East Iceland therefore instructed his colleague in Höfn to contact the police. The local news site Vísir reports that Police in South Iceland had located the RV within two hours and found the cat. The cat was then put down shortly thereafter by order of the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority.
Owner arrested, RV sterilized
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reports that the owner of the cat, a Swiss woman, was then arrested on Saturday evening. The RV was also sterilized on orders of the Food and Veterinary Authority. The woman will be charged for the cost of sterilizing the RV, putting down of the cat and the disposal of its carcass. She will likely face further fines for her violation of Icelandic law.
