I would like to revisit this issue again, since not every pet owner drives a car (me included).
Firstly, I understand that pets aren't allowed on the MRT, even if they're kept in carriers. However, the case with public buses isn't so clear. Some pet owners say pets aren't allowed on buses. If that's the case, then I must have gotten away with it several times when I lived at Clementi.
Sometimes, it's just too troublesome to call a cab, or I simply refused to pay the taxi extra call charge of $3+ just for a short ride which normally cost around $3.50. I would bring cats in carriers and take them to the clinics at Sunset Way which are a few bus-stops away.
My experience with bringing pets on buses have been pleasant so far. I've met bus drivers (they're called captains now) who would wait patiently for me to lug the heavy carrier up the steps of the bus. During peak evening hours, I've also met kind passengers who would clear the way for me to move towards the back door to alight. Some passengers even tried to call or play with my cat in the carrier. :) Of course, it helps to be thick-skinned and smile at both drivers and passengers, or look at them sheepishly for causing such inconvenience to them.
So, what's the real case with the buses and MRT? And what's wrong with bringing a pet in a carrier on the MRT? It's not like they're smelly like durians. In fact, some people on the MRT smell worst than durians, especially when you know they've just had a meal of char kueh teow and decided to burp on the MRT... :-O
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11 comments:
hi, glad to know another cat lover, i get ur blog add from vegancat..i been following sanju story..lucky sanju..so good to found a good owner..
I also have a cat blog:
http://jenniferyq.blogspot.com/
well..i will also keep visiting ur blog since u also like to post cat topics...
Thank you for visiting, Jennifer.
I may soon run out of Sanju topics when his adoption becomes final, and I am not fostering any cat currently...heheh...so may not have new cat stories. But I do have lots of community cat stories and photos to post. Later...
Oh Jennifer, I'd just realised you're the Pong Pong owner! I had visited your blog before. :)It's great that your mum likes cats too.
er, auntie p, actually hor, the rule for buses is pets are not allowed. i know this from a friend who works as route manager.
i guess the rule is not strictly enforced like for MRT.
Thanks for the confirmation, kuro.shiro.neko. I guess certain things are difficult to enforce strictly, just like the rule that cyclists aren't supposed to cycle on pavement. One has to be reasonable, and sympathetic in some instances, instead of blindly "follow the book". ;)
It's part of a "don't want to rock the boat" mentality of senior officials who are probably commanding very high pay that is the resistance to any "brave new world" changes such as amending ridiculous rules of forbidding animal companions into our homes and into public transport. We live in a world with animals. Animals are not encroaching into our territory. WE are pushing them out to the fringe and soon over it! What's with sharing our seats with a fellow animal when we take precaution on being sensitive to people who are conditioned not to touch certain animals. Come on. It is time we human beings wake up and see how much damage we have caused to this planet. See how much hatred we harbour against each other...if you want to start the day depressed, just read the newspaper!
Vegancat, I agree with you. Reminds me of the so-called "leader" (ex-civil servant) at my workplace. They have the power to do things to progress the co and customers' and staff's welfare, but instead of doing that, they prefer to sit still and muddle through, probably until their comfortable retirement. I guess it's the same mentality as you've mentioned. Sad.
hello, I've also taken the bus with my cat before and the bus uncle was pretty nice about it. Plus the fact that it was only for one stop though she meowed in the bus a few times, and pple pretty much guessed that I had a cat in the carrier. Oops! Maybe carrying them in the sort of carrier that looks like a sports bag would be more discrete, though I dun have that kind.
I think they usually shut one eye, since pple dun do it often I guess. Hehe...
kl- I have a carrier like one for luggage - one on wheels and you roll it. My cat used it once and then decided that he would rather be without tuna than get into one again. :)) Now its languishing in the recesses of my store room.
I once brought my cat in the bus in a little carrier and he sang from beginning to end. The people in the bus didn't blink an eye. They pretended that they didnt hear anything. The driver didn't say a word although he kept looking at me through the mirror. haha. I have not had the courage to try it again so unlike brave auntie p, I have got into cabs and pay the charge.
We've always been taking buses (SBS) when visiting the vet and so far, none of the bus captains have ever complained or disallowed us from boarding. Of course, the cats are always in a secure pet carrier, and plus the fact that they are not very vocal helps.
Hi,
I would loke to check if we bring cats/dogs in carrier.
What are the chances of bus captain allowing that?
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