Animals On Seats

[Envoy]

I travelled on a GWR train on Saturday and a man had a dog walking on the seat. Needless to say that when I said that dogs should not be on the seats, I got a load of abuse.

What is the policy regarding animals on seats? Animals might carry fleas/bed bugs that could infect trains/passengers. They can also be smelly and dribbling and possibly bite people. They would probably have been sitting / walking on dirty pavements/platforms and would therefore deposit dirt on the seats.

 

[Colin1501]

Not sure what the official policy is, but I agree with you. They should be on the floor - absolutely non-negotiable.

 

[devon_belle]

I would have been on your side. It will be at least as dirty as the bottom of our shoes with the addition of fur, drool and potentially bugs. However, the seats are so dirty already that it probably makes no practical difference.

Sadly reflects a common (but not universal) trait of dog owners: not understanding that even the cutest or most well-behaved dog can make others uncomfortable for a variety of reasons.

 

[dgl]

Animals always on the floor, I have to clean enough dog hair covered sofas at work to know that!
That should also help people with allergies as the floors a generally easier to clean (although vinyl/"leather" seating should be easy to get dog hairs off).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What is the policy regarding animals on seats?

The 'National Rail Conditions of Travel' document states (inter alia)...

Extract...

24.2 ....Animals are not allowed on seats in any circumstances.

https://assets.nationalrail.co.uk/e8xgegruud3g/3Y9UXuFziljwsGFCUAwKAA/0aa50a101febffda28c070aae2572570/National_Rail_Conditions_of_Travel.pdf

 

[james_the_xv]

Absolutely should be on the floor. Although my personal opinion is that they shouldn't be allowed full stop.

 

[Huntergreed]

As someone with an allergy (who may become inflamed if coming into contact with hairs for a prolonged period (such as on a train seat), I completely agree. Should be on the floor.

 

[hexagon789]

On the floor for two reasons -

1. Hygiene
2. It's against the NRCoT and you can't reserve a seat for an animal anyway.

They used to charge a seat cleaning fee if an animal occupied a seat against the rules; does any TOC still do that?

 

[The Planner]

Absolutely should be on the floor. Although my personal opinion is that they shouldn't be allowed full stop.

Why?

 

[Falcon1200]

Animals on trains - OK, as long as their owner ensures they do not in any way annoy, affect or inconvenience others.

Animals on seats - I would agree, generally, no, although a small dog say on a seat which the owner has covered with a blanket or similar would not bother me (unless it meant someone had to stand).

 

[devon_belle]

Animals on trains - OK, as long as their owner ensures they do not in any way annoy, affect or inconvenience others.

Sadly not enforced.

 

[RailWonderer]

If the animal is kept in a box on the seat, that is also fine. I saw a small cat in a box on the seat in first on the way home from Manchester (unless somebody wants to sit). Otherwise larger animals, always on the floor.

 

[james_the_xv]

Why?

Albeit a small geographical sample size (west midlands), for the most part I find it's always those who have little respect for others/their surroundings with their large, aggressive looking dogs either on seats or slumped in the isle. More than one occasion I've seen one of these people with one of these dogs effectively 'reserve' the cab end compartment of a class 350 by popping their dog on the floor in the isle, which is inconvenient at best but dangerous at worst if someone does decide to try and traverse said dog and it is reactive.

I've also been threatened with one at a station where I attempted to intervene when the owner of a Rottweiler was harassing a woman on the platform.

Maybe it's more a commentary on the type of people who take their dogs on trains local to me, but I'm staunchly of the opinion that no dogs should be allowed on trains.*

*Edit - Except registered guide/service dogs of course

 

[1D54]

Absolutely should be on the floor. Although my personal opinion is that they shouldn't be allowed full stop.

Even though some are cleaner than fare paying punters!!

 

[muz379]

As a guard I always kept an eye out for people with dogs on seats and sometimes even tables and politely ask they refrain from doing so .

Of course as with everything there were always differeing responses , from some people quite happy to comply and others rude or aggressive in their response refusing .

Ultimately its just another symptom of that age old problem with some dog owners which is that they think their dog is the most precious innocent thing in the world and they cannot get their heads round the fact that some people simply do not like (or are allergic) to dogs .

 

[Archvile]

Ultimately its just another symptom of that age old problem with some dog owners which is that they think their dog is the most precious innocent thing in the world and they cannot get their heads round the fact that some people simply do not like (or are allergic) to dogs .

Unpopular opinion... I've generally found that people who don't like animals are not to be trusted. I understand when the person is allergic or scared of them, but to not like them for no other reason than not liking them I find very telling. This has been proven true anecdotally time and time again in my experience.

 

[james_the_xv]

Unpopular opinion... I've generally found that people who don't like animals are not to be trusted. I understand when the person is allergic or scared of them, but to not like them for no other reason than not liking them I find very telling. This has been proven true anecdotally time and time again in my experience.

I think that's a grossly unfair generalisation. You don't know what has happened in the past to shape that persons opinion's. This is a very barber or cab driver type of opinion.

 

[Archvile]

I think that's a grossly unfair generalisation. You don't know what has happened in the past to shape that persons opinion's. This is a very barber or cab driver type of opinion.

That's why I added the caveat about being scared or apprehensive around them, that's totally understandable.

I've come across more than a few people who have expressed a dislike for dogs/cats for no apparent reason, however, and those people have always ended up displaying manipulative tendencies towards humans as well.

Ironically, it's their unfounded opinion that leads me to distrust them and their motives. There's a huge difference between this and reacting to a past experience.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Unpopular opinion... I've generally found that people who don't like animals are not to be trusted. I understand when the person is allergic or scared of them, but to not like them for no other reason than not liking them I find very telling. This has been proven true anecdotally time and time again in my experience.

Less trustworthy than the drug mules, the jobless fecks, those who don't buy tickets and give you a volley of abuse or threaten violence for simply asking?

Utter twaddle. Not everyone has pets, and certainly not everyone likes dogs which are 99% of the animal I see on my trains.

 

[Mat17]

Unpopular opinion... I've generally found that people who don't like animals are not to be trusted. I understand when the person is allergic or scared of them, but to not like them for no other reason than not liking them I find very telling. This has been proven true anecdotally time and time again in my experience.

I don't agree.

I don't particularly like dogs. They're okay so long as they're not in my personal space. I've been bitten several times and I have allergies to dog fur. But it doesn't for one minute mean I don't like animals and can't be trusted! After all I like most other animals, especially cats.

 

[Archvile]

Less trustworthy than the drug mules, the jobless fecks, those who don't buy tickets and give you a volley of abuse or threaten violence for simply asking?

Utter twaddle. Not everyone has pets, and certainly not everyone likes dogs which are 99% of the animal I see on my trains.

Certainly not  less trustworthy, just untrustworthy in a different way.

I don't agree.

I don't particularly like dogs. They're okay so long as they're not in my personal space. I've been bitten several times and I have allergies to dog fur. But it doesn't for one minute mean I don't like animals and can't be trusted! After all I like most other animals, especially cats.

Again, that's a rational dislike, and not for the reason of their simple existence.

 

[ge-gn]

I was pretty horrified on a recent journey when an elderly couple placed their dachshund on the table between their seats, where the little blighter had an hours snooze!

The guard passed through and checked tickets in this time, but didn’t bat on eyelid to my surprise.

 

[Envoy]

Many thanks for all your responses thus far.

A woman caterer came along with the trolley and actually stroked the dog. Don't think that is right being as she is handling food and giving cups to people. Surely on board staff should tell passengers that animals are not allowed on seats?

( I was actually bitten by a dog without warning 2 years ago on a pavement in a Cotswold village. The dog was on a lead. Fortunately I was wearing thick jeans but even so, I had three nasty bite marks in my calf and was in considerable pain).

It says a lot about our country when people think it is acceptable to have dogs on the seats of trains. (Same with feet).The man with the dog eventually got out a towel and placed it on the seat for the dog to sit on. Goodness knows which side of the towel the dog had previously been sitting on but I don’t think that is acceptable either.

Maybe I should just stick to my car in future and I guess that a lot of people will think likewise = loss of revenue to the railway.

 

[geoffk]

Sadly not enforced.

I saw it enforced once. A young woman had her dog on the seat and removed it, albeit reluctantly, when asked by the conductor. I don't think there was argument but train crews may understandably be reluctant to take action.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Maybe I should just stick to my car in future and I guess that a lot of people will think likewise = loss of revenue to the railway.

I suspect more people like dogs than don't.

 

[peteb]

IIRC dogs used to have to go in the guards van, suitably muzzled, along with the bikes, parcels and pigeons........
Now we have no guards vans, bikes blocking gangways (not the cyclists fault if there's nowhere to store them) and dogs on seats.
Progress eh?

 

[devon_belle]

I suspect more people like dogs than don't.

Supposedly 31% of households own a dog. You might be right.

 

[Peter0124]

My opinion on this is there should atleast be a thick enough blanket or towel covering the entire seat first before allowing the dog to sit on it. To avoid getting hairs/muck/urine etc on the actual seat.

I'm not scared so much of being bitten, its more the dog coming into my personal space/licking me or getting slabbers on my clothes. Generally placid animals (like Shih Tzus) are okay

 

[berwicksfinest]

Albeit a small geographical sample size (west midlands), for the most part I find it's always those who have little respect for others/their surroundings with their large, aggressive looking dogs either on seats or slumped in the isle. More than one occasion I've seen one of these people with one of these dogs effectively 'reserve' the cab end compartment of a class 350 by popping their dog on the floor in the isle, which is inconvenient at best but dangerous at worst if someone does decide to try and traverse said dog and it is reactive.

I've also been threatened with one at a station where I attempted to intervene when the owner of a Rottweiler was harassing a woman on the platform.

Maybe it's more a commentary on the type of people who take their dogs on trains local to me, but I'm staunchly of the opinion that no dogs should be allowed on trains.*

*Edit - Except registered guide/service dogs of course

Surely again thats not the fault of the dog, its said owner thats "trained" the animal to be like that.

As a Driver myself, I would have a train full of dogs and in 32 years, I have never had a train taken out of service because of dogs. Or looking like my train has endured a food fight, rubbish dump, or generally a childs play area. That pleasure has been reserved for 2 legged animals (and I don't mean Donald Duck)

Its the same as children on trains, if the parents bring the children up correctly there is no problems

 

[lachlan]

Not against dogs on trains (I don't like them but accept they need to be allowed if we are to cut car use and get more people on trains) but they shouldn't be on seats and neither should shoes.