Dogs on transit in a major city in Canada

 

On many transit systems of buses and trains all over the world dogs are allowed.

In Canada in major cities such as Toronto and Calgary, dogs on leash are allowed on transit, in non peak times.

It has been working well in Toronto, for example, for over 30 years.

I am from England originally, and then Toronto, Edmonton and for the last 30 or more years I have lived on the lovely west coast of British Columbia.

I live in the very dog friendly city of Vancouver/New Westminster, yet only small dogs are allowed on transit here.

In Portland for example, dogs are allowed on commuter trains and buses. I visited there in the summer with my lovely whippet and he was very welcome.

In United Kingdom dogs are allowed on transit, and in Europe I have been to Italy, France and Germany and seen dogs on transit in all of those places.

If you have read my other stories about dogs on transit here you will know that I recently presented a proposal to a transit board in our capital city, and have now presented to the transit board, here in my home town.

In my city, dogs are allowed on transit if they are in a carry container that can sit on the dog owners lap.

Of course all service dogs are also allowed.

My proposal asked for an extension of the dogs on transit policy to allow for dogs on leash as well- with the following conditions and rules.

·         All dogs to be muzzled

·         Dogs must be city licensed (wearing a tag) and vaccinated (rabies)( with identifying tag)

·         All dogs and owners have approved training ( 8 points see below)

·         Dog to wear a jacket- to keep back the dander, and to show they have the approved training and are approved by transit system to ride

 

 

Allergens are in the air and on clothes anyway- not just the dog

 

·         Limit the number on the bus  ( perhaps 3 or 4 )

·         Driver discretion

·         Dogs only allowed if room

·         Separate area of the train or bus

·         In non peak time, and or in set times that are not peak times

·         A special bus for dogs and people perhaps

 

·         Transit system to Charge a fee- for the approval to ride, for the jacket, and for the ride.

 

?  Dog behavior program- Dog should show that it can

1.       Walk with owner on leash under control

2.       Be accepting of a attention from a stranger

3.       Be under control in a crowd, and in confined area

4.       Sit on command

5.       Lie down by the owner or under the seat

6.       Well behaved in presence of another dog

7.       React well to distractions- opening of  door, sounding of a horn etc

8.       Be quiet while on the transit

 

This is an assessment that can be done in a few minutes per dog. Once the dog has shown it can pass this behavior test it would then wear a jacket indicating this approval, whenever it would ride on transit. This way all passengers and transit operators will know this is an approved dog.  

The jacket would also keep back the dander, as it is the dander from the dog that is the biggest allergy trigger.

 

No one wants a bus or train full of dogs, so there has to rules of course, and use of common sense by the dog owner, just the same as when people get on with baggage and trailers and baby carriages. Sometimes there is not enough room for baggage, and baby carts, and wheelchairs.

Transit needs room for all users, and dogs should not take from this room.

The transit system serves the public, the riders, all riders, and of course not all riders have dogs, or even like dogs, and some have fears and allergies. So there are real concerns.

 

If riding times and numbers were limited, and all dogs are leashed, muzzled, have completed a training program, and wearing a jacket to indicate so, then these concerns would have reasonably been addressed.

 

I can see it being very successful and even revenue producing as all dog owners should pay a fee.

It is my belief that with dogs on leash, muzzled, under control of the owner, in non- rush hour times, there would be no passengers or drivers put in an uncomfortable position, and this would allow those that simply can't get out of their own neigbourhood to take their dog out- to the vet, to a walkathon, to a park, to work...

Not all dog owners would want to ride the bus with their dogs. The large dog owner, (the dog being large I mean, not the owner) quite used to having his vehicle for his dogs would not find it a benefit.  

Yet those that just use their car because they cannot ride transit with the dog, on a simple easy route, would leave the car at home.

And that can’t be a bad thing!!

 

Since I presented this it has been on the news and it getting lots of attention.

I do hope that the transit authority will see the benefits and will see that for any problems they foresee there are solutions.

And they will keep in mind that other cities have been doing this successfully for years- even without all the rules.

 

Dogs are an acceptable part of our society.

With all these rules, only responsible dog owner will ride. And that will be a very good thing.

 

So- only on some buses, set times ?

Certain times of day. I would be OK with that. How about you.

 

join us and tell us what you think.