Dog o' Day
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Can you bring your dog or cat on the subway everywhere you go?

By Domenic Marinelli

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 21: Boji, an Istanbul street dog rides a subway train on October 21, 2021 in Istanbul, Turkey. Boji, is a regular Istanbul commuter, using the cities public transport systems to get around, some times traveling up to 30 kilometers a day using subway trains, ferries, buses and Istanbuls historic trams. Since noticing the dogs movements the Istanbul Municipality officials began tracking his commutes via a microchip and a phone app. Most day's he will pass through at least 29 metro stations and take at least two ferry rides. He has learnt how and where to get on and off the trains and ferries. As people began to notice him as a regular on their daily travel routes and since the tracking app begun Boji's travels have made him an internet sensation. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 21: Boji, an Istanbul street dog rides a subway train on October 21, 2021 in Istanbul, Turkey. Boji, is a regular Istanbul commuter, using the cities public transport systems to get around, some times traveling up to 30 kilometers a day using subway trains, ferries, buses and Istanbuls historic trams. Since noticing the dogs movements the Istanbul Municipality officials began tracking his commutes via a microchip and a phone app. Most day's he will pass through at least 29 metro stations and take at least two ferry rides. He has learnt how and where to get on and off the trains and ferries. As people began to notice him as a regular on their daily travel routes and since the tracking app begun Boji's travels have made him an internet sensation. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) /
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As it turns out, you cannot bring your dog or cat with you on the subway everywhere you go; there are still many locations out there that do not allow this city-wide. Interestingly enough, as CTV reports, it was just as of this Saturday that bringing your dog or cat on the subway—or rather Metro, as it’s known in the city—was just made legal.

Many celebrated this. Sitting here, writing this, I can see people walking towards the subways station in my neighborhood, walking with their pets to the swinging doors that lead to the stairway to the underground tunnels that make travel so simple in this metropolis of Quebec, the dogs embarking on an adventure all their own today, getting a glimpse of what they perhaps felt only as vibrations beneath them up until this point as they walked their city blocks with their best friends and adoptive parents.

So where can your dog ride the subway with you – in which cities? Keep reading to find out…

In the city of Montreal, a service dog has been allowed since time out of mind, and the rare occasion that I saw one while riding the metro myself, was a great opportunity to see a cute dog, sitting patiently beside its adoptive mom or dad…someone they were sworn to protect and guide…a job these dogs take to so amazingly…still impresses me greatly.

Philippe Dery, who is the public transit spokesman in Montreal, the STM, had this to say on the new rule set into place this weekend:

"“To make the metro more accessible, and a sustainable mobility option. You don’t have to take a taxi….”via CTV (link above)"

And what he means is, dog owners that need to take their pet somewhere in particular, they can ride the metro, which as stated makes travel very easy in Montreal and I would imagine any great metropolis all over North America.

It was in fact the SPCA in Montreal that had been urging the city’s mayor, Valerie Plante, to make the change, and finally this is coming to fruition—something Plante should indeed be commended for doing.

Being able to travel with your dog on the subway will be something that many appreciate. It’s obviously pleased many already, as I stated above (and for the record, as I read over my work here, at least 4 more people walked into the subway station near me with their dogs in tow, and I expect many more to be doing so over the course of the weekend and coming months).

Interestingly, as the CTV article also reports, the SPCA has tips on how better to prep your dog for riding on the subway (an adorable and aptly-titled page on their website entitled, “Fido On The Metro…”), because as mentioned above, this is a new experience for them as much as it is for the pet owner as well.

But can you take your pet with you on the subway wherever you go—in whichever North-American city you visit?

It is in a helpful list published at gopetfriendly.com that lets you know exactly where this practice is allowed and sadly not allowed (or at least until its publication back in June of this year). When traveling anywhere, it’s always bet to check the rules in regards to this.

As the article suggests, many places are still a tad archaic in terms of traveling with an animal…suggesting that said animal be in a crate or carrier that fits under an individual’s seat while on public transit, but there are places that are a tad looser with their policies as Montreal has now decided to be.

Hopefully this changes across the continent, dear readers, as it can be a positive thing. Now, it’s up to the pet owners to train and properly prepare their dogs for this journey in Montreal and anywhere else that follows suit.

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How are policies in your own city in regards to pets on public transit, dear readers? Let us know.

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