Dogs on trains: Australians want their pets on public transport
Almost one person a week in NSW is fined for travelling on a train with their dog – a ban Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has been campaigning to change. And he is not alone, with more than half of Australians supporting the idea.
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We sleep with them, cook for them, even plan our holidays around them — and they’re not our children, although more than half of Aussie households have one.
Dogs are such a big part of our daily lives, there’s now a renewed push for them to travel on public transport, bringing Australia and its companion animals in line with other global cities.
European and US cities have welcomed pets on public transport for years, but in Australia, rules vary widely and in most states, only assistance dogs are guaranteed a ride.
In NSW, companion animals can travel on buses, ferries, light rail and taxis at the “drivers’ discretion” but are banned on trains including the metro, disadvantaging owners who don’t drive, including the elderly and people with disabilities.
Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich, has been petitioning the State Government for two years to change the rules, and said it was time the state committed to a companion animal trial on public transport.
The call came as NewsCorp Australia launched Dogs of Oz – a celebration of our love for our four-legged companion and a one-stop shop on everything you need to know about dogs and owning one.
A YouGov Galaxy poll commissioned by Dogs Of Oz found more than 55 per cent of Australians supported dogs on public transport, with almost two in three people in Western Australia and Victoria supporting the idea.
In Queensland, where just over half of respondents supported the idea, a TransLink trial is currently underway in Brisbane allowing pet dogs on ferries.
Mr Greenwich has urged NSW to follow Queensland’s lead and trial dogs and other pets on trains and buses.
“Sydneysiders are as responsible as pet owners in other global cities and if other global cities can manage to allow dogs on buses, light rail and ferries, then we should be able to do that in Sydney as well,” Mr Greenwich told Dogs of Oz.
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“We’re also not talking about huge numbers of animals. What we’re talking about is removing an inconvenience for people with companion animals at certain times.”
A University of Sydney study in 2017 estimated dog owners made about 2.4 million dog-related car trips a week in Sydney, and were overwhelmingly keen to travel on public transport with their animals.
Some owners have taken their animals on trains and buses regardless of laws, with NSW.
Revenue booking 45 people in 2018-19, more than double the number of fines issued in 2014-15.
Glebe resident Nicole Perdikaris said she welcomed the push for dogs on public transport.
“I definitely think all dogs should be allowed on public transport, especially for people that don’t have their own car or people who can’t drive,” Ms Perdikaris.
“I do catch a lot of public transport, I’d definitely be more inclined to drive less and catch public transport more, particularly trains, if dogs were allowed on there. It would make life easier for all pet owners I think.”
Mr Greenwich said as Sydney tried to reduce car use, and research repeatedly showed the health and social benefits of pet ownership, it made sense to trial pets on public transport in metropolitan areas during off-peak times to give owners a chance “to prove it works”.
“It won’t inconvenience anyone, it doesn’t impact anyone’s personal safety, there’s nothing wrong with having a dog on a bus on a train or a light rail,” he said.
The move is supported by animal welfare groups including Animals Australia and RSPCA NSW, which said it was open to working with government to help policies become a reality.
There are also several petitions on change.org lobbying for pets on public transport including by Queensland-based academic Dr Patricia Petersen, who is petitioning all states including NSW to change the laws. More than 39,000 people have signed so far.
Dr Peterson said a “certification program” would let dogs travel on public transport provided they were given a “good boy” tick of approval for behaviour and socialisation standards.
Dr Sophie Riley, Senior Lecturer at the UTS Faculty of Law, said she’d love to see cities become more animal friendly, but a trial would need significant support.
It would also present challenges in Sydney where public transport can be overcrowded, and may involve only off-peak times or particular days.
“There’s nothing to stop governments from allowing it but politically they would have to ensure there’s sufficient community support, and I imagine the community would be very divided on this,” Dr Riley said.
“You would have your animal lovers and then those who would pinpoint problems, animals for example, that might not be under control, there could be health issues if a dog decides to do their business on public transport which is something you can’t always control.
“And some dogs mightn’t be sufficiently socialised to be in an environment where there’s a lot of people.”
Transport for NSW said there are currently no plans for a trial allowing pets on Sydney trains.
Originally published as Dogs on trains: Australians want their pets on public transport