Any idea why Amtrak refuses small pets in carriers?????

[JanMichael]

The airlines can do it why not a train in the US? For one I've been on Polish, French, German and Czech trains, and I recall seeing pets on them, why not us? Too good for it?

Is it just one more handicap placed on it by our "We hate public transportation" government?

Steph and I were getting used to taking the train to see our relatives who are a couple of hours away but we got a small dog last week and voila! No more train, now we drive.

What the fuck is the reason for this nonsense????

On EDIT: They allow putrid smelly people that dump "Obsession" and "Beautiful" on themselves as well as the literaly unwashed too, oh god do my sinuses go when hit with that shit...

[sniffa]

1. because they couLd kiLL peopLe Like ms. sniffa

or at Least make her very sick.

[JanMichael]

2. Can she fly? Does she fly?

Jesus christ take an Alavert or something, better yet when's the last time on a train anyway?

[sniffa]

3. thanks

see ya

[JanMichael]

4. When's the last time on a train? Does she fly?

Redux.

[Patiod]

5. Can't they have cars set aside for pet carriers??

and cars for those who are allergic? They have a "quiet car" now, which prohibits cell phones (yay!). There's got to be a balance between people traveling with small animals and those with allergies.

And what happens when a service animal comes on board - who "wins" the Battle of Rights? The blind person, or the allergic person? That's why a "no-pets/no service animals" or "pets/service animals in this car only" would make more sense.

[JanMichael]

6. Oh they allow service dogs, that's the catch.

I didn't realize that they were anti-allergenic...

[amazona]

9. german shepheds are fairly anti-allergenic

You'd be surprised. Different varieties can have different effects. I've had extremely severe reactions to some cat varieties, almost no reaction to others.

Allergy medication, other than steroid shots, does little or nothing for severe reaction to some animal danders.

It's a struggle for balance. I feel a small, short-haired dog in a clean carrier is safe enough, certainly for me but maybe not for others.

[JanMichael]

10. Not all service dogs are German Shepherds though.

There's a real mix of dogs that perfor services for the blind.

Oh and I should add that I'm ridiculously allegic to cats.

[Maddy McCall]

15. German Shepherds? They AREN'T

The worst shedding dog my family ever had was a German Shepherd. I'm talking sheds huge CLUMPS of fur. NO way is a GS anti-allergenic. To my knowledge, the only less allergenic dog is the hairless rat terrier. Serious.

[JanMichael]

7. But once again they are on the climate controlled airplanes!

Wtf?

[BikeWriter]

13. How would a blind person read the signs?

[JanMichael]

16. Didn't you see Daredevil?

They can do martial arts too, they don't need no stinkin' dogs!

[BikeWriter]

19. I didn't know that. I know movie ninjas don't have to see things...

but I thought they had to be sighted to do it.

[Der Blaue Engel]

8. And why the hell do they allow smoking??

I took Amtrak from the Bay Area to New Orleans a few years ago (so maybe this has changed), but it was excrutiating, because people were allowed to smoke in a downstairs area of the car, and they were down there nonstop, all hours of the day, with the smoke rising up through the car. My head hurt severely the entire six days (RT) I was on that train. Couldn't they have had smoking breaks for these people, at the various stations along the way? I thought I was going to die.

[JanMichael]

11. The trains in NC, which are DC to NO trains for the most part, don't allow

smoking period.

[LisaM]

12. I think it's ridiculous that they don't allow pets

I've been in Europe, and dogs were actually riding in the seats next to the passengers. They could certainly set aside cars for people who have allergies (do they do that for perfume allergies? or other such things?) A few years ago we were looking to take the train home for Christmas with our dogs and were absolutely shocked to find out that we couldn't. They have pet rooms and non-pet rooms in hotels - why not on trains? They let pets on the bus in my city, too (you have to pay if they take up a seat.)

[JanMichael]

14. I'm guessing that Congress has done this.

Just like how the forbid amtrak to own it's own tracks or carry commercial packages...

[grasswire]

17. why just pick on amtrak?

Can't take pets on long distance buses either. Those buses aren't too comfy, either.

[JanMichael]

18. Because we've been taking the damned train for a while THEN we...

...get a smaill dog, 8lbs, and we're suddenly personas non gratis.

Actually I had the idea that under 3 hour trips might be the lobbying point but several trips to Poland on Delta, and other carriers, had dogs in the cabin for 9 or more hours.

But your point is well taken.