NO DOGS ALLOWED: MY DOG AND ICELAND’S BIZARRE BANS
July 21, 2022
As I prepared for this trip, one question always popped up: What about your dog Tenzin? Is he joining you in Europe?
Sadly no. I wish, but logistically it’s just not feasible.
Tenzin & Ella in Western NY
Fear not though - He’ll be living the country life with my parents while I’m away. He’ll be in good hands with them who have graciously agreed to care for him in the months of my absence; I’m incredibly privileged to have that support and thankful they offered. I didn’t really have an economical plan lined up.
He’ll have 132 acres to roam, unlimited places to poop and his Newfoundland sister, Ella, to play with. My only worry is that he’ll not want to come back with me to the city when I return.
And even if he could join me,
He wouldn’t be allowed to because dogs are illegal within my first stop.
Let me explain:
My first stop on my European journey is the nation of Iceland.
Iceland, I’m learning, is a land of rugged traditions and history. Sitting at the edge of the Arctic circle and settled by Vikings in the 9th and 10th centuries. Between the short winter days, rugged terrain, and harsh arctic climate, life here can be rough.
Flying into Keflavík International Airport
You know what’s also rough? Jet lag. My first 24 hours here have been battling it.
Yesterday, my folks and I landed here at around 9am Icelandic time, putting our biological clocks at 5am. The 5 hour flight left from JFK at midnight and landed into Keflavik International at 5am. The flight, while pleasant for the most part, was turbulent and flying into the sunrise the entire time didn’t help.
I know, my said my parents are watching the dogs back in New York, but for the first leg of my journey, they are joining me in Iceland for a week! It’s been on their bucket list and I invited them. The dogs are currently in a kennel for the week until their return.
Sorry. I’m meandering. Brain is a little foggy.
So wait back to the dog thing - No Puppers?? No dogs at all in Iceland?
YES! ABSOLUTLY NO DOGS. The ban was enacted back in 1924 to prevent a strain of highly contagious parasitic tapeworm that had a high mortality rate among humans. The carrier? Dogs. Understandable right? Iceland, being an isolated island, didn’t want an outbreak of deadly parasites within their secluded population so dogs were banned from entering the country from that point on.
Ok, fair, but NO dogs? Like Ever?
Well, actually no. The ban was lifted 60 years later in 1984!
1924 was awhile ago and there are now treatments for the parasite, so today, the dog ban has lifted but with discrepancies. Residents are still required to go through arduous steps to own a dog and some breeds are straight-up outlawed. The laws may have changed but the number of dog owners within Iceland still remains lower than other similar countries – the cultural impact of the ban still lingers.
As a visitor, bringing your dog to Iceland is not out of the realm of possibility but the amount of paperwork, fees and time (mandated quarantines) it takes to acquire a permit makes it not worth it if you’re just passing through.
Other animals Iceland forbids include pet reptiles like snakes and turtles and non-native horses. Cats are OK though! Lots of people own cats. I’ve seen plenty roaming the streets of Reykjavik in my short time here.
Here are a few articles explaining the laws at length:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/illegal-in-iceland-180957521/