In the country’s capital Reykjavik, people were banned from having dogs as pets from 1924 to 1984. It wasn’t because they hated dogs or something. It was discovered that dogs were the carriers of echinococcosis, a type of tapeworm that can be passed from dogs to humans, and they were often found during autopsies. These tapeworms are dangerous because they cause intestinal infections, permanent blindness, and death. So people were not allowed to keep dogs as pets within the limits of the city. Now there is no ban, but residents of Reykjavik still need permits to have dogs, and owners have to microchip and vaccinate them.