Background & Purpose

To prevent dogs from causing harm, authorities need better tools to monitor how dogs are kept.

The Decision

The Swedish parliament approved new rules that allow authorities to enter homes for inspections and make it easier to take immediate action against dogs that pose a risk.

Does this affect you?

  • Dog owners: Must be prepared for inspections of their homes and stricter enforcement if their dogs are not kept in accordance with animal welfare laws.
  • Animal welfare inspectors: Gain new legal tools to enter premises and intervene quickly when they suspect that a dog is being mistreated or poses a danger.

In Practice

  • Länsstyrelsen får rätt att gå in i privata bostäder för att kontrollera hur hundar hålls.
  • Myndigheter kan snabbare besluta om att omhänderta hundar som anses farliga eller misskötta.
  • Polisen får i vissa fall befogenhet att besluta om avlivning av djur som tagits om hand enligt djurskyddslagen.