A Perthshire family was forced to put its new puppy into quarantine after it emerged it had been brought into the country illegally.
The Bernese mountain dog was thought to have come from Poland, but it later emerged it had been imported without authorisation from the Ukraine.
A vet raised the alarm when the dog was taken in for a check-up.
She found the pup had not been vaccinated against rabies as required by EU rules.
The dog was put into quarantine and the owners had to pay £800 to get it back.
Perth and Kinross Council animal welfare officers warned anyone who is thinking of purchasing dogs from abroad to be extra vigilant.
A spokeswoman said: “A puppy must be a minimum of 12-weeks-old when vaccinated against rabies, otherwise there is a danger that the vaccine which takes 21 days to have effect could be ineffective.”
She added: “The bill for the dog that has had to be quarantined can easily exceed £800 and the owner can ultimately face prosecution.
“More importantly, these regulations help ensure that the UK is protected from rabies.”
The welfare team said incidents of illegally-imported pets are on the rise: “Primarily as dogs offered for sale abroad can be considerably cheaper than those born here,” she said.
“Anyone who is considering buying a dog from abroad should take time to check the documentation, buy from a reputable supplier and check the animal’s history.
“If you have any doubts, check with a vet before buying or talk to Perth and Kinross animal welfare officers.”