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Author Topic: Dogs
palmland
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This is an article from Huffington Post/

While I'm ardent dog lover and would like nothing better than to take my dog on train trips, this appears to be yet another example of congress micro managing Amtrak and making laws that add to expense without providing funding.

The legislation also includes provisions for eliminating food and beverage losses that we have discussed before. It also includes the much broader issue of funding for Amtrak.

Given the results of previous similar efforts, such as the ill fated CCC car, I'm not not optimistic. This will be one more thing for Amtrak to try to manage and struggle to find the dollars to do it.

A far better approach would have been for Amtrak to take the initiative and develop their own program then approach the appropriate budget committee to get funding. Best defense is a good offense, which Amtrak lacks.

Brief example of the proposed language:

"At least one car in passenger trains should be available for ticketed passengers to transport a pet.

The dog or cat has to be in a kennel and that kennel has to be stowed “in accordance with Amtrak size requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage.” (At this point, St. Bernards are howling “That's RUFFFF!”)

The passenger transporting a pet will have to pay a fee (the amount of which has not yet been disclosed).

The pilot program would also allow ticketed passengers to transport dogs or cats in cargo storage. Under this program, Amtrak would be responsible for keeping the cargo area at a temperature “controlled in a manner protective of cat and dog safety and heath.”

There is a reason many airlines no longer offer to transport pets. Fido riding in a baggage car cross country brings lots of liability issues for Amtrak. Now if our dog was in our bedroom with us, happy passenger, happy dog. But those smoke breaks would take on a whole new meaning.

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Gilbert B Norman
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This issue reminds me of how Lucky, my "partly" Newfoundland (1992-2003), once tried to board #4 at MP 18.30 (the station). The Chief stopped account a Stop Signal, and the Assistant Conductor alighted from the rear most Sleeper. We were walking on the platform and wondering what was going on. He wanted to give the AC a kiss, but settled for a pat and a handshake. Then he proceeded up the Superliner's vestibule trap, before he got the "uh uh" from me.

I remarked to the AC how he would just love to go on a train.

If we ever did, he'd expect a Bedroom and 105lb of dog would give me as much or as little of the couch as he pleased. At night, I'd have the Upper. He'd be giving pony rides in the Lounge; if a kid was too heavy, he would gently lay down and roll over.

May the best friend I ever had in this life rest in peace.

So far as any liability issues go, how could any carrier begin to compensate anyone for the loss of a living being so dearly loved? Once, long about 1980, my Sister and kids were flying London to Hong Kong on British Airways. Also traveling was Hansel, their German Short Haired Pointer. There was a fuel stop at Tashkent, but somehow someway, the Ruskis were more interested in their Vodka that hooking up the aircraft to ground power. Hansel survived, but not for too long.

I know I'd never be party to shipping a dog aboard an aircraft. About three years ago, My Sister got another GSHP, named Bronco, from a breeder in Idaho. He now has one flight in his logbook and that better be the last. My reaction was simply "fly out for all I care, but rent a car for the return with Bronco".

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palmland
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Totally agree about dogs. I'm sure our Bassett Hound, Tallulah, would be quite happy in the lower berth with Mary andi I would be in my rightful place wedged into the upper berth. Sounds like it's about time for you to get another furry best friend,
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Geoff Mayo
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Being an expat myself (though not a dog fan), I have heard that the Queen Mary II is a popular way to transport mutts to and from the US. A dedicated deck area to walk your dog, apparently good room service (for the dogs), and not overly expensive in the great scheme of things. And booked solid for months ahead.

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Geoff M.

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Gilbert B Norman
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Dogs are mentioned within this "human interest" piece that appeared in, of all places, the Wall Street Journal:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/novelist-rita-mae-brown-on-the-peculiar-pleasures-of-train-travel-1423681659

Fair Use passage:

  • Novelist Rita Mae Brown on the Peculiar Pleasures of Train Travel

    The author of the Sneaky Pie Brown series and Sister Jane novels remembers riding the rails in the days when horses, dogs and all of humanity rode along
While such has done nothing to enhance my knowledge of railroad industry affairs, I trust some will find this to be a fun and nostalgic read.
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MargaretSPfan
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This opens a Pandora's box that really should stay firmly shut.
1. This ignores the needs of people who are allergic to dogs and cats, etc.
2. Can all people traveling with animals in kennels (carriers) be trusted to keep those animals in those kennels 100% of the time?
3. What happens when the animals are taken out of the kennels so they can take care of basic bodily functions?
4. Just where are the animals supposed to do their eliminating?
5. What happens when -- not if! -- an animal bites someone?
6. What happens when -- not if! -- two or more loose animals get into a fight?

Sigh.....Yet another reason NOT to ride Amtrak IF Amtrak is forced to allow pets to travel in passenger cars. And putting those pets in the baggage car is NOT a good idea, for reasons already pointed out.

People -- if you must take your animals with you -- drive! (This does NOT apply to true Seeing Eye dogs or Hearing Ear dogs.)

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palmland
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To tie this into the UK thread, glad to see Scotland has a more enlightened attitude towards dogs!:

"Dogs are also welcome on the Caledonian Sleeper service however there is a charge for this (except for guide dogs). A fee of £92 is payable for each leg of the journey at the time of booking which Scotrail advise goes toward “the cost of deep cleaning the cabins afterwards. We do this to provide additional reassurance for customers, particularly those who may suffer from allergies.”

Of course before Amtrak, dogs were often seen enjoying a bedroom with owners on their journey to Florida for the 'season'. A 5 minute station stop took care of fresh air needs for passengers and pets.

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Geoff Mayo
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One thing that annoys me is that anybody here (in the US) can claim that their mutt is an "emotional support animal" or some other sort of medical condition that "requires" a dog. Guide dogs for the blind/deaf are fairly obvious so no problem there. It beats me that somebody official cannot legally ask whether the mutt is medically required. As Margaret says, dogs are likely to, well, do what dogs do, and usually only guide dogs for the deaf/blind are usually trained.

Yet people parking in blue badge spaces are required to prove they have a disability of some sort by displaying a blue tag/badge. Why the two extremes? All it takes is some official credit card sized card that's officially issued to those that need it - without specifying why. The few people I've mentioned this to quote privacy laws, 596½th Amendment, nobody needs to know, etc - but then suddenly start mumbling and wandering off when the blue badge parking issue is mentioned.

(To avoid me going completely off-topic, blue badge parking spaces do seem to be much more widely honoured than in the UK where abuse of such is common and enforcement minimal. Mind you, parent/child spaces in the UK are virtually non-existant at least in southern CA, yet common in the UK - very helpful with young kids, opening doors, and road traffic)

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Geoff M.

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Gilbert B Norman
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Ouch, could have figured this would be an emotional topic.

Mr. Mayo (and apparently Margaret as well), your reaction to the most precious living being God put on our planet, reminds me of a neighbor who once asked me to take his Mother's Husky while she made an extended visit of some six months. He hates dogs but worships those animals of the feeline varietal.

When he broached the idea to me shortly after Lucky was called, I can recall when hearing him out, that it took ten minutes of conversation for it to come out that the dog had a name, Lady, a breed, and a gender.

The "topper" was when I said "I think I should go out (Sacramento) to meet Lady and see how it goes" to which his response was "no need for that; we'll just have IT shipped out here". It became quickly evident that Lady was just a piece of property that needed to be stored.

Tempted; but wisely didn't touch it, even if it cost me an airline ticket exchange from ORD-SMF to ORD-HPN.

Finally, to close WAAAY off topic regarding Mr. Mayo's thoughts on designated parking spaces, my two pieces of copper say there should be priority spaces for both SUV's and Sedans. For example, take a row of twelve spaces in wherever (train station, mall, street). Four of such would be for SUV's one end, four for Sedans on the other, and anybody's in the center. Talking trains, this would be just like the BREL MkIII Sleeper.

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palmland
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Geoff makes a good point about parking spaces and service dogs. It really annoys me when I see someone without the proper badge/license plate parking in handicap spot as it may be needed for a person with a real need.

However I am always happy to see a 'service' dog even if there is no apparent need. Stopped to pet one in Lowes with an apparent very able bodied guy holding the lease. Turns out he trains service dogs as VA can't keep up with the demand for wounded vets. Several parts of his body are held together with metal after many surgeries from IED encounter. You never know.

Often thought about registering my dog as a service dog. Traveling on Amtrak is very stressful because of the delays and possible missed connections. Just kidding!

Now to really venture onto dangerous ground and further off topic, I asked the minister at our small church when he would have a blessing of the animals. He replied, Mike, do we need to? All dogs go to heaven.

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RRRICH
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Palmland -- actually there IS a recognized "blessing of the animals" day in, at least the United Methodist Church. It is held in the spring, I believe, and was started by St. Francis of Assisi -- not ALL Churches "celebrate" it -- my former Church in Florida did, but our small Church up here in N Michigan does not.
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Gilbert B Norman
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As Rich noted, St. Francis is recognized by both the Roman Catholic and the Anglican/Episcopal churches as the Patron Saint for animals. The Feast is celebrated in both faiths during October.

I hope all here are aware of Pope Francis' comments that animals have souls. Believe you me, I don't need some guy sitting in Rome wearing robes to tell me that Lucky and the many other precious dogs I have loved over the years, have a soul.

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palmland
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Our church (Anglican) is relatively new, and we now have Blessing of the animals on the calendar for October. We do have a sense of humor as there was a suggestion of that being a good day for a barbecue.
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Ocala Mike
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So, what's actually the protocol involved in petting service dogs? I would assume one would first ask permission of the owner/trainer/master, right? Aren't there some categories of these animals that one should never ask to pet, like those obviously doing police, crowd control, or security work? Is it ok to pet someone's seeing eye dog, for example?
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RRRICH
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As a general rule, I believe it is NOT "OK" to pet service dogs, especially if you do not know the dogs or their trainer/owner/master.

Several years ago, we had a handicapped friend who was a service dog trainer, but also had 2 of her own service dogs (a Golden Retriever and a Bernese Mountain Dog), who she would bring to our club meetings (and even to our house a couple times). In these cases, it was OK to pet the dogs, since everyone knew them as well as the woman who brought them.

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Geoff Mayo
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You should certainly always ask first - especially a guide dog for the blind as the person may not be able to see you (blind is not necessarily completely blind). Possible exceptions per RRRich.

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Geoff M.

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