Brisbane Buses to go Pet-Friendly?

Pets can travel on public transport in Europe, USA and Sydney, so how about Brisbane?

RSPCA Queensland has today thrown their support behind a petition calling for changes to Brisbane City Council laws that prohibit pets from travelling on buses, ferries and trains. 

The petition, which has so far gained 769 signatures, calls for owners to be allowed to take their pooches on public transport, as long as they’ve been given a ‘good boy’ tick of approval for behaviour and socialisation standards.

The move would bring Brisbane in line with other cities around the world, including Paris, Washington and New York, where pets are permitted to travel on public transport.

RSPCA Queensland spokesperson Alex Hyndman Hill said that changing this law would result in significant benefits for dogs, pet owners and the wider community.

“The RSPCA Queensland receives over 1,000 distress calls each year about animals being left in hot cars.

“If owners had alternative methods of transporting their pets, such as being able to take them on the bus or ferry, we would hope to see a reduction in this number,” she said.

“From an economic perspective, allowing pets on public transport would encourage people to take their furry friends out and about more often, which brings more business to the local community.

“We’ve seen incredible success when welcoming animals onboard public transport internationally, and closer to home in Sydney. If Sydney can do it, why can’t Brisbane?”