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YOU MAY HAVE a pet. You may use public transport in your daily life. But have you tried to do both recently? Probably not.
In Ireland, certain bizarre occasions notwithstanding, we tend to keep our buses and our furry friends well apart. But that isn’t the case in other countries.
Croatian national Snjezana Frketic has been in Ireland since December. She’s fresh from two years of travelling and working on Dublin’s north side.
Everywhere she went in that two years, her six-year-old white German Shepherd dog Onni went with her. Until she got to Ireland.
“We have travelled through many countries together – the USA, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Belgium, Croatia – transport of pets in other countries is always more or less the same: yes they are allowed, mostly without a muzzle, and rarely free of charge. With a special ticket mostly,” she told TheJournal.ie.
Coming to Ireland made me realise that Irish public transport – as well as hiking trails, restaurants, and other things – is not welcoming towards medium or big-size dogs.
For 33-year-old Snjezana, the difference in standards first became apparent when her and Onni got stuck in the rain in Wexford and were trying to get to Dublin.
“None of the trains or buses were willing to take us. We couldn’t even stay inside the train station, rather we were told to stay outside. And it was freezing!
What our transport services say
TheJournal.ie inquired of Ireland’s major transport providers what their attitude to pets aboard their vehicles is, and what their rationale is.
The four questioned – Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Irish Rail, and Luas – all have relatively similar policies at present. And they don’t seem to be in any hurry to change them.
Irish Rail, who Snjezana would most like to make use of as she and Onni are used to travelling by train, allow guide and assistance dogs at all times.
Smaller dogs and cats can be carried on board in a passenger’s lap or in a carry-container free of charge. Larger animals (which Onni certainly is) are persona non grata however, and if a fellow passenger objects to a pet, the owner is expected to move.
Larger dogs can be accommodated on rare occasions in an unoccupied guard’s car, although this only applies on two routes in Ireland. A charge is applied in such circumstances.
“We already regard our policy as pet-friendly,” a spokesman told us.
Up until approximately eight years ago, we only permitted guide dogs and assistance dogs in the passenger area, and have relaxed this to allow smaller dogs and cats to be carried.
Bus Éireann allow only guide and assistance dogs and they have to be clearly jacketed as such. “Dogs, cats or any other animals or live fowl of any description WILL NOT be carried,” the company says on its site.
A spokesperson told us the rules in place are “for health and safety reasons”.
Dublin Bus are less clear as to what’s acceptable and what isn’t. A query to the company was met with this response: “Under the Dublin Bus bye-laws, customers shall not bring any bird, animal, article or thing onto a bus if it is likely to cause annoyance or damage to any customer or damage to any property in the opinion of a Dublin Bus employee (driver or inspector).”
The only exception to this law is in the case of a customer with a guide-dog or an assistance dog. Owners must carry the correct identification and ensure that the dog is wearing the correct tag or coat.
This would suggest that the choice is entirely at the bus driver’s discretion, which would appear to be a little less strict than Bus Éireann’s approach.
Luas operator Transdev didn’t reply to our query. However, the Luas website’s frequently-asked-questions section suggests that, again, the tram service is mostly a guide-dogs-only zone:
Other dogs and animals are allowed on the tram provided they are in an appropriate enclosed pet carrier case / box. Their travel is at the discretion of Luas Staff.
Survey
So it doesn’t seem Ireland’s transport network has any plans to loosen its rules regarding access for pets.
Not that Snjezana is giving up just yet. She has started an online survey which she is planning to give to Irish Rail in a bid to change their regulations when it reaches 1,200 responses (the mandatory limit for consideration in a country Ireland’s size – you can take that survey here).
“I got an official response from Irish Rail which is that their customer policy is only orientated towards people without dogs or with small dogs. People with bigger dogs don’t even have the possibility to be customers. I find that really discriminating,” she says.
There are people who need their dogs as an emotional support. There are people who don’t have a driving licence or a car. Being punished for having a pet such as bigger dog, and a bigger dog is anything above 8kg) is affecting some people’s quality of life.
And on the other hand, there are financial benefits for Irish Rail as well. I think it is time for Ireland to catch up with the rest of the world on this matter.
“Now I’m here in Ireland I want to use my spare time doing stuff outdoors. Like hiking in Wicklow. But you cannot reach Wicklow with your dog here. You have to hire a car. And that’s not much good if you don’t want to hire a car,” she adds.
You can take Snjezana’s survey here
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But sure aren’t you allowed bring a horse on the Luas??
Seriously we are the worlds worst concerning pets on public transport. We can’t stop making up enough rules to make it more impossible for a pet owner in this country but in mire forward thinking more level headed countries like Germany seeing a dog on a bus or train is an every trip event
If I brought our boxer lab Marley onto a train for the first time, he would try shoving his nose into every crack, lick every lady and try to ride the seats. If he saw a pussycat OMG, guaranteed front page coverage. If we cannot keep ‘feet off the seats’, try PAWS….
@Paul Somers: so should all the dogs in Ireland be punished because you can’t control your dog?
@Chrip Ramsay: Obviously NO, BUT if a passenger on public transport acts unruly the Garda might be called. If a pet acts unruly, who defines the unruly behavior. I think it would be fantastic to let people bring their dogs on public transport.
Ireland really isn’t very dog friendly compared for Europe and it isn’t only public transport it’s everywhere. Signs of “no dogs except guide dogs” are prevalent although I must say I’d rather some unruly children were banned from public places than innocent doggies.
Kind of see the point on big dogs. You will have a certain clientele brining their rotties an alsations travelling beside your kids. Maybe if the had a specific carriage but like everything else a small minority of irresponsible owners would lead to incidents which would lead to claims.
That’s a great idea! Conor Power.
Nothing wrong with rotties and Alsatians just the people that own them. Some humans should be bands from using transport. I see it all the the time. European transport people clean up after them selves. But not in paddy land
@Conor Power: shows what you know about dogs. First it is not the breed it is the owner who determines the danger or not of a dog. Second – putting all the dogs in one carriage would vastly increase the chances of a canine altercation
Aw cute doggie. In France they get a seat next to you. Up on the seat with them and staring out the window.
Ireland is years behind in its attitude to animals. You see dogs in airports, banks and hotels all over Europe. People who travel with their pets tend to be responsible owners with well socialised dogs.
Bicycles and dogs are commonplace on Berlin trains.
Mind you, Onni looks more like a wolf.
Not everyone us comfortable with animals
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan:@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: the same can be said about kids!
@Spongebobdub: or drunks or cyclists
It’s not about being uncomfortable, it’s about health. There are many people with allergies that can be mild or very severe. Friendly dog licks a childs arm and it swells up in rash and they need the hospital. Cat sheds fur on seat and the next person on the bus ends up having an asthma attack.
@Amy Wallis: I have never heard of a dog lick causing anaphylaxis and if your child is allergic – don’t let it approach the “friendly dog” just like my friends’ son with a nut allergy never eats food unless he’s asked if it’s nut free . If your allergy is that extreme it could just as easily be set off by sitting next to the dog or cat owner without their pet but with some hair on them. And as assistance dogs are allowed – your point is moot anyway.
My sister lives in Austria and her dog is allowed on trams, cable cars and the bus around the city once he has a muzzle on. He is allowed into pubs and restaurants too. He a whippet
so wouldn’t be allowed on public transport here. Her biggest problem is people stopping her to pet him. As he is so friendly with unusual colouring.
That’s a Bear
I was on the dart to Howth the other week and there were 5 dogs, three of which were large dogs. Everyone was petting them and the dogs were having great craic.
Considering some of the intoxicated creatures that crawl onto the luas I would rather share an entire coach with a whole pack of dogs than with people who can barely string a sentence together and are falling over onto you, never mind the ones at the bus stops asking for the price of a fare!
Very sorry you don’t like or agree with our rules. Try the UK. Bye Bye.
Are you THE Michael Evans of Bord Fáilte?
@Michael.No need to be a dick.
There is always one gobshyte who think they are funny..
While i agree it would be nice to bring your dog with you on public transport…..we need to get our transport system working for humans first!
They need to relax the rules. The world isn’t going to end if there’s a dog on the Luas. It’s quite unfair on people who have pets but don’t drive. In London dogs are welcome on the Tube, buses and all trains, no matter the size.
But they also have to take into consideration people with allergies. It’s brig near one for a few minutes can send me into an asthma attack, or even being near where a dog was sitting hours ago because of the fur it left behind.
Allowing animals on buses and trains all the time would be a health hazard and they would have to clean it every few hours (if not more often) for it to be even slightly less go one for allergies alone.
The unions would seek a significant payrise to change those rules…could even be an all out strike!
Did she do any research into animals on public transport in Ireland before coming here? Seems to me that she made an assumption and is now bitching about it because she was wrong. Not all countries have the exact same culture – something she clearly should have learned from her extensive travels
@Tony O’C: It would have no more occurred to me to check about animals and PUBLIC transport as it would to check if people of colour had to sit at the back of the bus. Travel broadens the mind and I think it’s great she has travelled with her dog to so many countries.
First off, this article is about dogs on public transport, not race. Lets keep it that way. There are plenty of other Trump and Brexit articles you can go to if you want that sort of argument. And second, I sincerely hope her trip to Ireland broadened her mind to the fact that not all countries meet her demands or dog’s needs. It’s not just here, a lot of regions in Spain as well as Scandanavian countries have similar and even stricter rules against animals that size on public transport. Is she going to go to each of them with her dog in tow and complain some more? And finally, just out of curiosity, does she pay for the dog to travel in foreign transport?
@Tony O’C: The race analogy was to make the point it is simply prejudice. A small dog or cat can still bite or pee or trigger someone’s asthma (if other posters are to be believed)
Yes she says in most cases a muzzle & ticket were required so you didn’t read the article very well.
It sickens me to see all the abandoned lurchers & greyhounds in pounds, the idiot list of banned breeds and the appalling greyhound racing & hare coursing.
Ireland has an appalling global animal welfare image so I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that it doesn’t accommodate those with companion animals
I did read the article. 11 hours ago. You honestly dont think dog or cat hairs can trigger asthma? Or any allergies for that matter? Seriously? I agree with banned dog lists. Sorry that’s contrary to your your opinion, but you wont change my mind on it, so there you go. I do however agree with the dog racing. Maybe you and the author should team up and start a petition. Seems like you have a lot of concerns and based on the volume of comments you left, you might eed hobby. Best of luck with that.
@Tony O’C: Typical – so you think it is acceptable to exploit dogs for “entertainment” despite the death & suffering but not let dogs travel with their owners on the bus?
Actually was a typo. Should have read ‘i do however agree with you on the dog racing’. I dont like it. I dont watch or bet on it. Just not for me. Anyways, back to the actual issue at hand. Dogs of any size should not be on public transport, with the exception of service/guide dogs, as they are brilliantly trained. That’s my opinion. And you know what they say about opinions. I also have an opinion of you and frankly i dont want to waste any more time on you. Good day.
We are the most unfriendly country for animal welfare, on the estate where I live we all got a letter telling us not to feed a family of kittens that a family had abandoned, some residents complained they were fouling their garden. And those of us with cats would get a visit to see if we had proper toileting facilities for our feline friends, needless to say that didn’t happen, letter went down like a lead balloon. At that time an older lady that was doing her absolute best, dealing with 2 organisations to get kittens homed, She kept Buddy and he is a fabulous cat, I couldn’t take one as I have a big 6kg cat and she is very territorial and now they get on well. It was a very unpleasant experience. Have responded to this lady’s survey, and I’ m sorry she had this ‘irish’ experience.
Not too many pet friendly hotels either
Every year I have to drive to Ireland from Germany with my dog. Airlines are not allowed to carry dogs from Europe to Ireland. Any other European country is good but not Ireland. And best… nobody can explain it
@Johannes Baader: did aer lingus stop it recently???
@Johannes Baader: Ironic as Ireland is more than happy to export greyhounds to anywhere irrespective of welfare legislatoin
They are more bothered about the risk of rabid dogs than feral humans entering the planes!
Is there no end to Ireland’s archaic attitude towards animals – dogs especially? Your heavily subsidized greyhound racing industry is a welfare disgrace as is the export of greyhounds to countries with even worse or no welfare legislation . Hare coursing is another example. I had no idea about the public transport ban – which discriminates against larger dogs yet allows little snappy dogs to be carried? Owners of larger dogs usually spend more time on training and socialisation because even a friendly large dog could accidentally cause a problem. Dogs make wonderful companions and the health benefits of having one are well known. Of course dogs need to be well trained and socialised but as someone has already pointed out “People who travel with their pets tend to be responsible owners with well socialised dogs.” I am more offended by vomiting drunks or screaming children on the trains in London -when I meet a commuting dog – it makes my day.
A lad can walk out of court with a conviction for assaulting someone on a bus and get the bus home without a bother but you cant take a dog on a bus
All this nonsense about banning pets stems from the agricultural mindset toward animals that was embedded into our culture, time to grow up lads.
No cats or dogs or boords okay that’s grand so… but how’s about horses?
What’s a boord?
I’m wondering where she was in the US and Canada, as my experience in the two countries is that it’s service animals only or (at best) small, quiet and in a carrier on public transit.
Keep “pets” off public transport, out of restaurants and pubs.
@Joe: Why? and why is pets in ” “. Dogs happily co-exist with people in pubs, restaurants and public transport in most of Europe and the world hasn’t ended. What’s your problem?
@Laura Slade:
Because, in my opinion, dogs in particular are disgusting animals and the should not be imposed on people in public areas such as pubs, restaurants and public transport. It is the selfishness of pet owners that want everyone to submit to the presence of their disgusting animals.
@Joe:
Disgusting how?
Did you have a bad experience with an aggressive dog? Or did one pee up your leg? Is it a religious thing? You still haven’t specifically explained your extreme prejudice.
What is disgusting – their fur, their waggy tails, their affection, their loyalty? We have selectively bred them for thousands of years to work for us and with us and now are fabulous companions.
If that is your attitude I find it sad and inexplicable – just hope you never need the services of an assistance dog or search & rescue dog.
You don’t have to like them but what about peaceful co-existence? I’d prefer shops, trains, bars etc were not full of out of control screaming kids but don’t call those who choose to procreate selfish?
@Laura Slade:
Prejudice?
Don’t you just love so called “dog lovers”
We shouldn’t have to co-exist with animals in public spaces for the sake of so called animal lovers narcissistic selfishness. Keep them out our public spaces.
@Joe:
Keep them out of our public spaces.
@Joe: You cannot articulate WHY you think animals are disgusting and you are clearly intolerant – I should feel sorry for you but can’t.
@Laura Slade:
Intolerant? Yes I’m intolerant of people who wish to impose their animals on others because of their narcissism.
Are you tolerant of those on whom you to impose your animals on against their will?
@Joe: You refuse to explain WHY you dislike animals – so it must be an irrational phobia – get some mental health help
@Laura Slade:
Of course it must be a phobia, that’s the usual response, in recent times, to someone who doesn’t accept a particular narrative.
And now you are not only a so called dog lover, but a mental health expert as well, giving others advice, how concrited.
@Joe:
conceited…..not concirted.
@Joe:
I repeatedly asked why you hate animals but you refuse to explain – how do you expect people to understand or accept your position without explanation?
If you can’t explain your hate/fear is irrational – therefore it is a phobia therefore you can get mental health help to address it.
@Avina Laaf: A pidjin
I have a minature yorkie, (2.5kg) and i am often told to get off the luas and some bus drivers say no, its terrible, because hes only small and I like to bring him to visit my nanny, and also to the vet as it is far away .,, Ireland needs to loosen up on this.
We need more foreigners coming to our country to change how we do things.
Wonder if I went to poland and whinged about something would I get an article about it or a hearing at all?
@Yenreit:
1 She’s from Croatia
2 Free speech is a wonderful thing
I really enjoyed in Italy how dogs walk around with there owners in expresso coffee shops and clothes shops an wag there tails ..but here some shops treat humans like there animals in there precious shops .the kind is the ones where they wear a layer of makeup n don’t move even a rib of hair but do everything with eye balling looks n jestures while there body is like a stiff plank an look you up n down as if what er you doing in my Kingdom of clothes shop ..maybe that’s it what was I doing in those cold creepy places ..
I understand her frustration but it IS a health and safety concern.
If it were a smaller dog or a cat I’d have more sympathy as they are small and can be held in your lap, but it isn’t. She has a massive dog that would take up a lot of space and has a lot of fur.
I am very allergic to dogs and all it takes is being near one for too long and I can have an asthma attack.
I can understand her frustration in not bringing able to travel easily with her pet, but it’s a problem that she has taken on when she took on a large dog. If you really want to go to the Wicklow mountains with your massive dog than hire a car. I’d rather not end up in hospital because someone brought their giant dog on the train next to me, or even a few hours ago and it left its fur on the seat.
@Amy Wallis: So what do you do when there’s a guide dog or other assistance dog in the bus or train?
How may people I wonder have such a severe allergy compared to how many pet owners would like to travel on public transport with their pet? You’ll be asking pet owners to de-fur themselves before travelling next?
@Laura Slade: A person with a guide dog or assistance dog needs their dog to travel with them. It is a requirement not a choice. A pet owner chooses to bring their dog on public transport with them. The two do not equate.
@Bronagh McAuliffe: They equate in terms of the “allergy” issue – assistance dogs have fur too!
My Irish rail station allows dogs on the train with muzzle but have to buy a ‘dog ticket’ for travel.
Okay – can there be some clarification on this Dublin Bus / Irish rail – if i get on the bus with my dog (small well-behaved terrier) will I or won’t I be allowed travel and if one driver decides to allow me but when it comes for me to get return trip another decides he doesn’t want to let me travel then what??? its a bit wishy washy ‘maybe we will maybe we wont’ should i try sneak him on un-noticed or carry him on so he can be seen??
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