Keep clear of Norway

[Natalya]

Per, can I ask you a question, how do Norwegian police know the breed of foreign dog? Do they check veterinary passport or they have right to suspect some prohibited breed without making official expertise?
In case of pitbulls and staffordshire terriers, it's hard not to recognize this breed, but CsW could "accidentally" have veterinary passport with "laika" (Siberian hunting dog) or "mix" in place of breed, and it will not be so suspicious.

[Per Olav]

Originally Posted by Natalya

Per, can I ask you a question, how do Norwegian police know the breed of foreign dog? Do they check veterinary passport or they have right to suspect some prohibited breed without making official expertise?
In case of pitbulls and staffordshire terriers, it's hard not to recognize this breed, but CsW could "accidentally" have veterinary passport with "laika" (Siberian hunting dog) or "mix" in place of breed, and it will not be so suspicious.

Hi.

As for which breeds are banned Navarre qouted the complete list of Norwegian banned breeds. Except for Amstaff and CSV they all were banned by 1991 and no individuals from before 1991 will be present here today.

Amstaffs and CSV's imported before the ban are fully legal but the owners have to prove their origin by offical documents like pedigree papers etc.
Of course the owner may fake the papers of the dog, but on suspicion the police may shelter it for further investigation and if in doubt the animal may (not necessarily ) be euthanized. If such attempt of faking the dog's papers is discovered the dog most likely will be put to death,

As Navarre writes the dog might not be killed, but for now no trials has ended without a death penalty.
--
PO

PS. Both the prosecutor and the prosecuted may use experts if they like. Last year a dog was seized on suspicon of beeing a Pitbull mix. The procecuded owner called a Swedish expert who concluded that the dog most likely NOT was a Pitbull mix. The prosecutor overruled the expert and the dog was put to death. The term MOST LIKELY made the difference of life or death and how can one prove the origin of a mix?

[Navarre]

I think that tourists should be made AWARE that their pets could be killed during their holydays in Norway.

[Natalya]

Per, I'm not a lawer, but we live in XXI century, and final word must come from genetic tests, if we talk about official suspicion and trial procedure.
My question was mostly about situation of short stay or transit. In some countries, police strongly believe in written paper with a stamp in such situations.

[Per Olav]

Originally Posted by Natalya

Per, I'm not a lawer, but we live in XXI century, and final word must come from genetic tests, if we talk about official suspicion and trial procedure.
My question was mostly about situation of short stay or transit. In some countries, police strongly believe in written paper with a stamp in such situations.

Like you I'm no lawyer and know little of genetics but I believe is it not possible above doubts to prove the ancestral heritage of a mix or even a pure bred dog?

As of transit: here is a official document from our Ministry of Justice and Police.

Based on rumours of illegally imported Amstaffs by the use of fake documents the police in one of our counties made a razzia and captured and sheltered some dogs. Their future are told to be quite uncertain.
--
PO

[Natalya]

Breed genetic test is not so precise, as personal genetic identification or nearest relatives identification. Veterinary department of Mars Inc. offers DNA breed test for mixed dog owners with 90% accuracy (it is based on gene statistics, collected from 13000 dogs, as they say). But they say in FAQ:
- Can this test be used by regulatory/animal control officials to determine whether breeds are legislated or banned in a particular community? - The WISDOM Panel™ MX is designed and intended to be used solely to identify the genetic history of a mixed-breed dog and no other purpose is authorized or permitted.
But anyway, if judgment is based on presumption of innocence, prosecutor have to give evidences, that suspicious animal belongs to prohibited breed.

[Per Olav]

Originally Posted by Natalya

But anyway, if judgment is based on presumption of innocence, prosecutor have to give evidences, that suspicious animal belongs to prohibited breed.

Nope On the contrary. Like the Norwegian law on drugs the procecuted bear the responsibility of proving earned money come from other sources than distribution of drugs, the owners of assumed banned dogs or mixes thereof are responsible of proving their dogs are not. Theoretically the authoryties may sit with hands and legs crossed waiting for the evidence provided by the procecuted. And again - if there is a slightest doubt of the heritage of a assumed banned dog or mixes thereof its future life may be disputable.
--
PO

[Angelika]

Originally Posted by Natalya

if judgment is based on presumption of innocence

No, Natalya, it´s based on state-determinations.

Again: on the official page of Norway everyone can find a passage about the obligation to introduce his dog while entering Norway. If you follow this obligation nothing happens because they will send you and your dog home.

Does everyone here want to avoid state-determinations?