Overview
- The animals were found under blankets in a cramped transport box with little food and water during a stop at an A3 rest area near Schweinfurt.
- The van carried Romanian plates, and the two occupants told investigators they are from Romania, live in France, and were returning there from a holiday.
- Required veterinary papers, including valid vaccination records, were not presented at the checkpoint.
- The puppies were seized and transferred to the responsible veterinary office for medical care and appropriate housing.
- Authorities set a €1,500 security deposit and said the couple faces potential criminal consequences for suspected Animal Protection Act violations, as customs warn the illicit puppy trade is rising.