Can I take my pets on public transportation?

In 2007, riders on the 331 bus in the United Kingdom began to notice a fellow passenger -- a white cat that would board the bus several days a week at the Churchill Road stop and exit near a fish-and-chips shop about 400 meters (.25 miles) down the road. Passengers affectionately nicknamed the kitty Macavity, after the mysterious cat featured in the T.S. Eliot book of poems "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," once they realized the cat was riding the bus without its owner [source: The Daily Mail].

Could you blame this resourceful feline? Public transportation is such a convenient, cheap and eco-friendly way to travel -- and you can even nap while you do it! Public transportation is a great way for people to get around, especially in major cities where roads are clogged and parking is scarce. There's only one question, though: Can your dog or cat (legally) ride with you?

The good news is that certain buses, trains, trolleys and light rails allow pets. However, don't get your best friend leashed up yet -- a number of restrictions apply, and you're out of luck if you're traveling Greyhound or Amtrak, as neither allows pets on its buses and trains.

There's one exception to that rule: If you have a service animal, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows your animal to accompany you to any public place, from restaurants and hotels to (you guessed it) buses and trains. However, service animals are workers, not pets, and many more restrictions apply to them. Generally, you'll have more luck if your pet is small enough to fit in a large bag or small carrier. If you have a large dog, some modes of public transportation in certain cities will allow you to take it with you, but those transportation companies are much fewer than those that allow small pets. Recently, restrictions in some parts of the United States against transporting pets were amended to allow some pets to use public transportation and receive care during emergencies [source: Texas A&M University]. After Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. government realized that some people refused mandatory evacuation on public buses because they could not take their animals with them.

To learn more about places where pets are allowed, take a look at the next page.

Pets on Trains and Buses

With some exceptions, there are a few types of pets allowed on public transportation:

Small dogs are allowed more often than larger dogs.
Small dogs must be in a carrier that you hold on your lap for the entire ride.
Large dogs, if allowed, must be on a short leash at all times and cannot take up a seat.

You should check with your local authorities, but remember that Amtrak and Greyhound only allow service animals. Expect to pay the fare for your pet as you would for yourself, and expect to be allowed to board during certain hours (generally during non-rush hours). In addition, unruly, aggressive, noisy or foul-smelling animals can be refused -- even if they meet all the company's requirements.

California is one of the most public transportation pet-friendly places around. Sacramento and San Diego allow small dogs on buses and light rails, while San Francisco allows leashed and muzzled or contained dogs -- big and small -- on Municipal Railway's cable cars, historic streetcars and trolley buses as well as the Blue & Gold Fleet Ferry. Washington State and Massachusetts also allow large and small dogs to varying degrees. You can carry your small dog in a carrier on your lap in Atlanta, Ga., Dallas, Tex., Denver, Colo., Orlando, Fla., Chicago, Ill., New York City, Washington, D.C. and Vancouver, British Columbia [source: Pet Travel].

In addition, numerous smaller cities allow dogs on their trains, ferries and taxi services.

Even with the handy guide above, be sure to verify with the public transportation company before you head out to make sure the rules haven't changed. For more information, visit the links on the next page.

Lots More Information

Sources:

Americans with Disabilities Act. "ADA Business Brief: Service Animals." April 2002.(Accessed 1/26/09)http://www.ada.gov/svcanimb.htm
The Daily Mail. "Mystery cat takes regular bus to the shops." April 12, 2007. (Accessed 1/26/09)http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-447527/Mystery-cat-takes-regular-bus-shops.html
Dog Friendly. "Dog-Friendly Public Transportation In the United States and Canada." (Accessed 1/26/09)http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/newsletters/features/transportation.shtml
Pet Travel. "Pet Passport Information: Public Transportation." (Accessed 1/26/09) http://www.pettravel.com/passports_pubtrans.cfm
Texas A&M University. "Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act)." (Accessed 1/26/09) http://homelandsecurity.tamu.edu/framework/public/individualandfamily/pets-evacuation-and-transportation-standards-act-pets-act.html/

Can I take my pets on public transportation?

Pets on Trains and Buses

Lots More Information

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