What Dog Owners Do to Take Their Dogs on the New York Subway

Until recently, seeing a pet on public transport was unthinkable. However, more and more cities are becoming “pet-friendly“, meaning they’re allowing pets on public transport… with certain restrictions. In this article, we’ll tell you what dog owners do to take their dogs to the New York subway, as well as the Madrid and Barcelona subways.

Dogs on the New York subway

One of the most populous cities in the United States also has an overpopulation of furry friends. Dog owners take their dogs everywhere and, in many cases, use the subway to get around in this city where the traffic is usually chaotic.

However, the mayor decided to implement a policy that banned dogs on the subway. People started complaining almost immediately. Since thousands of people were outraged by the policy, the government decided to change some of the rules. Thus, they allowed only pets who fit in bags on public transportation.

Although this is obviously an unfair rule for large breeds, at least it was a step in the right direction. When it seemed that all dogs over 10 pounds would have to seek other means of transportation, their owners got really creative.

Now we see Pitbulls, Siberian Huskies, Golden Retrievers, Dalmatians, and other large dog breeds on the subway thanks to their owners’ inventiveness. They carry them in their backpacks and even shopping bags so that their furry friends can accompany them everywhere they go.

Source: rolloid.org

The subway and pets in Spain

In the case of the Madrid metro, users must meet certain rules to be able to take their dogs with them:

1. The pets must be identified with chips.
2. Only one dog per passenger is allowed.
3. The last carriage is exclusively for dogs.
4. Dogs can’t occupy seats.
5. They’re allowed to use elevators to get on or off stations.
6. They must wear a muzzle and a leash no longer than 20 inches.
7. The passenger is responsible for their pet’s safety and for any inconvenience they may cause.
8. Dogs can’t travel by subway during peak hours. They’re not allowed from 7:30 to 9:30 am, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, and from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
9. Employees can prohibit the entry of animals for safety reasons.
10. There are no restrictions on weekends and holidays.

And what about the Barcelona subway?

The law that allows dogs to travel on the Barcelona subway dates back to October 1, 2014. All pets can ride the subway as long as they have a chip and their owners registered them in the municipal census.

However, they can’t ride from 7:00 to 9:30 am and from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Dogs aren’t restricted for the rest of the day, neither on weekends and holidays.

Pet owners can travel with small dog breeds at any time of the day if they’re in their carrier. Furthermore, only one dog is allowed per passenger and they must wear a muzzle and a leash no longer than 20 inches.

To access the stations, they can use the elevator and the regular stairs (not escalators). However, they can’t occupy seats. In addition, the subway holds the pet owners responsible for any inconvenience or damages their pet causes. On the other hand, safety personnel may limit the admission of dogs during congested times.