DOGS NEED TRANSPORT TOO
What do you do with your dog when you travel?
If you are flying interstate, do you fly your dog with you? Or, like most people, do you leave him at home? If you are travelling across your suburb, do you take your dog in the car? Or, do you leave her at home?
Around our country (Australia), many dogs are left at home because we cannot take them on transport. Sure some airlines will accept pets- in the luggage hold. Trains and buses will not accept pets at all. Many people choose not to travel – nowhere farther than where we can transport our pet in the car. But what if we don’t drive or own a car? I speak to many people, often older or infirm, people who would like to visit friends or relatives but do not drive. They do not leave their homes often, because their pets are not welcome to travel with them.
Could new times of travel be emerging?
Two news items emerged today. The first, an anonymous one about the way animals are treated when flying. This story in the Canberra Times states that cages, containing pets, are routinely left outside where they are subjected to potentially harsh weather conditions and any other dangers an airport may subject them to. Staff are concerned. If this is the case, I am concerned too.
Could we possibly take our dogs on to the airplanes with us. I hear most Australians thinking “Never!” and yet, this is what dog owners in other countries do.
The second news story is a call for Sydney to allow dog on public transport, not just Assistance Dogs but ALL dogs. Dogs NSW and Sydney mayor Clover Moore support this idea. I have commented on this article in the Sydney Central, giving my support (as yet it is still to appear).
Could we soon see a day that dogs accompany us as we catch the train into the city, just as they do in most other major cities around the world?
Obviously taking our dogs on public transport requires a degree of caution. It may not suit all dogs. Some may be afraid. It is important for owners of young puppies to introduce their dogs to all forms of transport and make this socialisation experience as positive as possible. Also, picking up poo would be mandatory, as would preventing any anti-social behaviours such as aggression towards humans or other dogs and excessive barking or exhuberant behaviour.
OK that sounds like hard work for many owners and they may still choose to leave their pets at home while they travel. but for many, this would give us more freedom than we currently have. Freedom to explore our cities and our countries WITH our dogs.
Would you take your dog with you on transport?
Why does Australia restrict dogs on public transport?
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A noise reactive miniature poodle and a couple of over the top (need a whole lot more training) belgian shepherds and me (a disabled person) – ahhh public transport – NO WAY.
Yes I think if I took my ferrrets onboard i might end up with a carriage all to myself!!
Huray for sound words of common sence, my pair of Toy Poodles are cleaner than most people, ahahhahaa, we take them ever where, and they have their own pet stroller for the shop’s. If any one notices it is doggies and not a baby, they are all over them, and think they are sooooo cute, not apauled in the least. I got my stroller from America, we are so behind the times, when it comes to pets.
It really is common sense, isn’t it? Taking a pet on transport should be easy but it just would not suit some pets or people. But anti-pet people could travel in a pet-free area – by themselves
It would be nice if there were a nationally-recognised body which could assess companion animals and issue certified “Good Animal-Citizens” with a pet passport or similar, which would allow the animals to accompany their owners into a wider range of public activities (including taking public transport). The pet passport could also be revoked if there was good cause.
BTW, my friends’ dogs are all automatically welcome at any barbecue I have at my home. Their children? Ummm….. 😉
Spot, I believe the Canine Good Citizen award was set up to do just that – offer a passport of canine manners in society. In a country that doesn’t even regulate Assistance dogs that well, it may be a long time before we see this happening. Wouldn’t it be good to get reduced registration fees or the like if we were responsible owners?
Just added the Pet loo dog Mr Cooper’s photo to this blog post. He is a frequent flyer!
I’m familiar with the CGC program in the US, founded & administered by the AKC:
https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/
but if there’s an Australian equivalent, they sure keep it a good secret :-/
(Sorry, I muffed my link: AKC Canine Good Citizen® Program )
Delta Society trainers, who have a Cert IV in dog training, run the CGC program around the country. More info at http://www.deltasociety.com.au.
Even if the dogs have to be muzzled it would be great to be able to take them places on the train. For example, what if your car breaks down and you need the car towed to the mechanic and the only way home is the train and you have your dog with you?
It’s not that hard to get a dog used to an appropriate muzzle.
I think dogs should be allowed anywhere people are. How many in NSW realise that dogs legally have to be further away from places serving food than smokers do? It’s ridiculous. My opinion is that most people are more unhygienic than most dogs.
Fear and misunderstanding in so many cases is the reason the dogs get left out in the cold.
And maybe, just maybe, if people could take their dogs on holiday there would be less dogs starving in back yards when their owners go on holiday and don’t think to organise anyone to feed the dog. It’s sad but it happens.
Very well said firem4njoe!