Amtrak Pilot Program

[Bob Bufkin]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/28/amtrak-pets-trains_n_5226740.html

[Dave V]

I know I may offend and I'm sorry, but I have trouble considering anything less than that 20 pound limit to be a dog, unless it's a puppy.

[Bob Bufkin]

I agree Dave.  So far, as said, it's only a pilot program.  And I think it's bull that you can't have decent facilities for larger animals in baggage cars.  If I'm not mistaken railroads used to handle pets in them years ago.  Even the airlines can handle larger animals safely in their baggage holds.

[tappertrainman]

I know I may offend and I'm sorry, but I have trouble considering anything less than that 20 pound limit to be a dog, unless it's a puppy.

My Chief Railroad Construction Supervisor may have a word with you about that!   



6 pounds 10 years old.  TOTES ADORBS 

James

[Dave V]

Cute!  What breed?

My parents had a sable Pomeranian for many, many years.  She was super cute...just not the right size for dog things like long hikes, fishing trips, frisbee, etc.

I prefer a dog of sufficient size to enjoy the great outdoors with me.  Before Howie passed he spent quite a bit of time with us up in the mountains off-leash.

[Baronjutter]

Just buy a 2nd seat for your dog or capybara or who ever, problem solved.  I'd rather sit next to a dirty badly behaving dog than a lot of the humans I've been stuck next to for long trips.

[Scottl]

Well, we can't do anything about people and kids, but pets are a different story.  I've been on enough flights with dogs and cats of various types that I think this is a bad idea.  I like dogs and cats a lot, but sitting next to somebodies flea riddled slobbering pet for a train or plane trip sucks and is disrespectful to your fellow passengers.  Some pet owners are very responsible and their pets are well trained and unobtrusive, but all it takes is one bad incident and you have no tolerance for the idea.  If someone sat next to me with a dog, I'd move, and if necessary, demand a higher class of seat.

Sorry pet lovers, but they belong in the hold/baggage car with the cats and the bags.

[C855B]

Yeah, pets in the passenger areas are courting issues. Simple issue first - what happens when Fido needs to... uh... seek relief?... NOW! Long distance travel is absolutely out of the question. I can see the conductor's trip report, "Excessive delays at stations A, B and C due to pet unable to poop on demand."

We do dog rescue, and understand entirely too much about the owner/pet dynamic, and especially how generally poor the assessments are of one's own pet's reliability as a traveler. "Fido is fine around people," we hear, the owner having not yet discovered that Fido is a fear-biter in strange surroundings.

Considering the pilot program is on the Illinois train services, I'll be watching this closely.

[tappertrainman]

Cute!  What breed?

My parents had a sable Pomeranian for many, many years.  She was super cute...just not the right size for dog things like long hikes, fishing trips, frisbee, etc.

I prefer a dog of sufficient size to enjoy the great outdoors with me.  Before Howie passed he spent quite a bit of time with us up in the mountains off-leash.

Toy (teacup, although I hear there is no official such thing) Pomeranian.  I married into this one.  I agree, she's not much use for hikes, trips, or much of anything I'm afraid except being cute. 

JAmes

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Sorry pet lovers, but they belong in the hold/baggage car with the cats and the bags.

Nooooope.

http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/as-pet-deaths-continue-airlines-pressured-to-change-their-ways
http://www.wnyc.org/story/286948-airlines-can-be-deadly-for-pets-35-died-in-2011/
http://theweek.com/article/index/210767/delta-air-lines-dead-dog-problem

If there are problems with the nature of the pet, they should be dealt with like any other unruly or problematic passenger, but banishing pets off to neglect and horrible conditions is NOT the answer.

If Amtrak allows us to travel long distances with Damian without having to drive, I'm DEFINITELY going to be buying more Amtrak tickets.

It's one more great way to differentiate rail as the civilized way to travel without all the indignities of air travel.