There are plenty of ways to travel with a dog when you don’t have a car. Most ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft allow pets. If those services are not available in your area, you can also take the bus. You’ll just have to make sure the dog is on a leash.
More and more people are ditching car ownership and opting for more environmentally friendly modes of transportation, such as public transport, bicycles, and carpools. But what about people who own pets and need to bring them somewhere?
In some bigger cities where public transportation is common practice, pets can be checked as baggage. They are allowed to ride with their owners if they are registered service or therapy animals.
In recent years, it seems it has been a trend for people to seek a doctor or counselor who will provide them with a statement saying they need such an animal to make traveling with their pets easier.
Professional animal trainers highly discourage people from registering their pets as emotional support dogs so they can bring them on public transportation because it diminishes the legitimacy of people who actually need them.
So what is a pet owner to do? Does car ownership become a necessity just because you own a dog? Along with the added costs of owning a dog, will you also have to pay for fuel, insurance, and repairs on your vehicle?.
This may not be even remotely within the budget for you. But that doesn’t mean you should give up on your dream of owning a dog and having that furry little companion to keep you company. So long as you have enough room for the dog to have a little space outside and the time to give him daily exercise, transportation issues can be solved!
There are multiple creative ways to travel with your pet, even if you don’t have your own vehicle.
1: Get a Bicycle Cart
Bicycle carts are designed to carry children, but they can work for your furry child as well! They even have seatbelts you can use if you can get your pet to stay in one! Attach this cart to your bike, strap in your pet, and you’re off!
Bicycle carts are a perfect option for people who have pets they need to transport because a dog of almost any size can fit in a bicycle cart, although transporting the larger breeds might take quite a bit of strength by the rider!
2: Go on a Jog
This may seem simple, but hey, your dog needs the exercise as much as you do! Walking might take forever, but jogging could get you there in a shorter amount of time while giving your dog some much-needed exercise.
Your dog will love you, and you will get in a great aerobic workout. This is only an option if your destination is within a reasonable distance and if your dog is sufficiently leash trained and old enough to jog alongside you.
3: Call a Friend
Do you have a dog-loving friend who wouldn’t mind a little fur in the backseat of her car? If you have to take your dog somewhere that is farther than you can jog or ride a bike, this might be a good option.
You can always offer to pay for her time and gas or return the favor. It is an excellent excuse to spend time with a friend as well!
4: Use Uber or Lyft
You can always try to catch an Uber or Lyft ride and ask your driver ahead of time if he or she is okay with taking a pet along for a ride. They might say no, but it can’t hurt to ask! This is a good option if you have to take your pet somewhere farther away than you can jog or drive, and you also don’t have a car-owning friend who lives nearby.
5: Take the Bus
This is probably only an option if your dog is small enough to fit in a carrier that can fit on your lap. If this is the case, most bus lines will allow you to take your pet with you as long as your pet is contained, on a leash, and sitting on your lap.
When taking your pet on a bus, it is your responsibility to ensure that your dog is not a danger or a nuisance to anyone else using public transportation.
6: Take an Airplane
This is only a good choice if you are traveling across seas or the country and you were planning to take an airplane anyway. Some airlines allow small dogs to be checked as a carry-on, and others allow dogs of all sizes to travel as cargo.
However, some do not allow dogs at all. so it is important to read all the rules and regulations regarding pet travel before purchasing your ticket. All airlines require a state-certified certificate of health before allowing the dog to travel.
The dog must also be up to date on rabies and other vaccinations, including kennel cough and parvovirus. It is very important to read up on reviews of airlines and how they care for their animals who travel with them, but this is an option for traveling long distances with a dog.
7: Invest in a Moped
We’ve all seen it at least once in our lifetime…a dog riding a moped while wearing goggles. You could be that person!
If you don’t own your own car, but you have a dog and don’t want to rely on public transportation or favors from friends to get your dog where he needs to go, a moped might be the right choice for you.
It’s smaller than a car, so it’s much easier to park, especially if you live in a big city where parking can be difficult. In many states, no insurance is required for a moped either, making it an extremely cost-efficient way to travel longer distances than you can walk.
There are several safe ways to transport a small dog on a moped. If you own a large dog, this probably will not be an option for you.
8: Buy a Pet Stroller
Yes, you will still have to walk or jog, but this is a good option for people who have dogs that are not leash trained yet, or young puppies who should not be walking very long distances. In these cases, having a pet stroller for getting to places within walking distance is very helpful.
9: Get a Doggy Carrier/Backpack
We have all seen a baby in a carrier, but what about your dog? Again, this may only be an option if your destination is already within walking distance.
However, it is possible that carpools, Uber drivers, and some forms of public transportation would be more tolerant of a pet traveling with you if it was strapped to you rather than loose.
A dog in a carrier really can’t have an accident on anything (other than you) and doesn’t have the freedom to potentially bite someone who comes near unless someone actually reaches into the carrier- an unlikely scenario.
10: Buy or Rent an Electric Scooter
This is another form of transportation that is only an option if you have a small dog. Larger dogs could, perhaps, keep up next to an electric scooter by running, but that dog would need to have sufficient stamina, and the distance would have to be short enough that the dog could run it without injuring itself.
However, small dogs could be carried in a backpack type of carrier while you ride the electric scooter to your destination.
You will most likely not need daily transportation for your dog unless you use a doggy daycare while you are at work or visit the dark park daily. But if you’re like most pet owners, your dog mostly stays home with you, and you take regular walks by your home to provide your dog with the exercise he needs.
In this case, needing a different form of transportation for you and your dog is rare, but it does come up. Your dog will need occasional vet care, for example. Some vet offices offer telehealth options for some types of appointments, and other vets do home visits.
However, this is not always an option, and sometimes you will need transportation to get your dog to the vet. Hopefully you will never need emergency vet care, but you will want to have several options to get you and your dog to the vet quickly if you ever do.
Aside from vet visits, you may need to transport your dog if you need a dog sitter, or if you want to go to the dog park. Whatever your situation, if you don’t own your own car, it is important to be aware of all the possible modes of transportation for you and your dog.
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