Amtrak and Pets--it might happen...!!!!!!!!

[MADem]

First good legislation I've seen come out of a Republican....

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/chance_to_train_pets_d2HYHpibZOAdLC5FrmQO5L


Passengers with tails could soon ride the rails.

A new bill allowing dogs and cats on Amtrak trains would make life easier for nondriving pet owners.

The “Pets on Trains Act of 2013” would require the railroad company to provide at least one pet-friendly section per train at every station in the country.

“My dog, Lily, is a part of our family and travels with us all the time,” said Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), who introduced the bill in Congress on Tuesday.

“Allowing families to bring their animals with them will facilitate transportation and efficiency.”

If it becomes law, the bill would scrap Amtrak’s current pet policy, which allows only service animals on trains.

It would designate one car per train for domestic pets, with a minimum of at least two cars per train.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Good news for pets, pet owners, but more importantly, for **ALL** train riders

Repubicans have been, at best, cool toward anything to do with Amtrak, and. more usually, hostile toward the whole notion of passenger rail. To have an actual repubican introduce an actual bill that is actually rail-positive in the actual congress is quite remarkable. While your post is certainly appropriate to the Pets group, it might be more widely of interest than just us pet people. maybe you could post it in GD, framed as a positive Amtrak story more than a pet story.

Thanks for posting this! I see it as REALLY good news!!

[dballance]

2. Boy I hope that passes. I wanted to take AmTrak in the past but didn't 'cause of my dog.

I couldn't believe that AmTrak won't even take them in non-passenger cars like Airlines do for larger dogs. I've flown my dog cross-country a couple of times and hated to put him in a kennel and have him separated from me and stressed out. I would have gladly taken AmTrak if I could have taken my dog with me. I think riding a train, even as "freight," would be less stressful than flying for pets.

[MADem]

7. I think they should take some of the older sleeper cars, and configure the

cabins for travellers pets. Put in a bench or two (in the larger cabins) with heavy plastic upholstery, put linoleum on the floor, and provide the cabin with a five pack of wee wee pads and a garbage bag. That way, a person could sit in a cabin with their dog or cat, with the door closed, and even lay down on the bench and snooze with them.

I think they need to look at how other nations do this, and take a few lessons--but I can't wait, either--I'd love to be able to travel with my two troublemakers by train!

[Stinky The Clown]

3. The only downside is the 50 lb limit. How do I take my Tyrannasaurus sized GSD?

But, on balance, this is a good thing.

[MADem]

4. I wish they'd raise the weight maybe ten pounds, or let the conductor offer waivers...

So one of our young adults can 'train' with his golden.

But hey, gotta start somewhere. Once we're IN, maybe they'll change their priorities.

I think that "pet trains" could SAVE Amtrak....and not only save it, make it grow.

I can't tell you how many seniors I know who drive to Florida, Nature's Waiting Room, every fall and drive back every spring. Many have pets, and they would gladly, gratefully drive to Lorton VA and take the auto-train to FL, if only they could bring Fluffy or Fido.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. And if enough people take advantage of this,

they might find out that they need more cars designated for pets. Amtrak is making a big mistake by excluding all pets from travel. I hope they are proven wrong by legislation that forces them to accept pets.

[MADem]

6. First we've got to get this legislation passed.

I am going to write to my rep and ask that this be passed.

This is one lousy thing that both parties can agree upon. It ain't world peace, but it's a start~!

[IrishAyes]

8. Glad to hear this.

Surprised, but glad. I too will express support for this bill to the appropriate parties.

[MADem]

9. The more the merrier...

Totally OT, but who's that cute kid in your avatar? Looks like an old time movie cherub!

[RavensChick]

10. That's great!

As much as I love Amtrak, every time I travel I feel a bit guilty when I have to leave Raven (my 3 yr old tabby) with friends or by himself. I had a neighbor who had no problem keeping him when I went out of town, but she moved last December so I had to curtail my train travel a lot this year so far.

I have an aunt in NJ who has a beautiful 7 yr old girl cat named Lilly, and I want Raven to meet his feline cousin so bad, but the only way that's gonna happen now is that I have to either ask friends to take me up there (which for the gas alone is expensive) or leave my baby behind (which I refuse to do at this point). So, I hope this bill passes real soon so I can grab the carrier and my suitcase and let Raven see the world outside my condo!

P.S. For this bill coming from a rethug is very interesting. There's hope yet for us.

[MADem]

11. The GOP legislator likes trains and his pets--so it's a selfish thing, but good things

can come from selfish motives!