Saskatoon Transit has been quietly allowing leashed pets on buses since December, the city’s transportation committee recently learned during a discussion about a potential bylaw that would give Saskatoon Transit and city police more power on buses.
Prior to December, Saskatoon Transit required any pet that wasn’t a service animal to be placed in a kennel while on a bus. While Saskatoon Transit has since been allowing unkenneled pets on buses, a bylaw presented to the city’s transportation committee outlining a range of new bus rules was proposed to formalize the change.
Councillors Surprised by Leashing Changes
Councillors on the committee were taken by surprise over the leashing changes. Coun. Randy Donauer on Tuesday said “animals can cause conflict,” pointing to how some issues can be seen when dogs are let off leash in parks.
Mike Moellenbeck, director of Saskatoon Transit, says not everyone carries proof of a service animal, and bus drivers are forced to make “decisions on the fly.” Saskatchewan currently doesn’t have a registration or certification process for service animals.
Service Animal Concerns
Organizations like Prairieland Service Dog Training have been calling on the city and province to provide clear guidelines around service animals. Owner Candace Bighead says legislation can help protect service animals like her dog Bentley, while creating consequences for service animals who are improperly trained.
Moellenbeck says this proposed change would reduce negative interactions drivers have with people on the bus, and if there are concerns about someone’s pet, a supervisor would address those involved. There have been no issues thus far in the past months, Moellenbeck added.
No Public Campaign
There was no public campaign from Saskatoon Transit announcing the change, though Moellenbeck says they’ve been speaking with bus riders as questions or concerns come up.
Coun. Bev Dubois wondered if any pet — a cat, snake or rabbit, for instance — could be brought on the bus. City solicitor Cindy Yelland said there isn’t a reliable definition on which animals can be considered service animals. She adds that the animal control bylaw already stipulates what pets are allowed in Saskatoon, adding they need to be on a leash on the bus.
“Obviously you can’t put your snake on a leash,” Yelland said.
“Well, if someone wanted to take their snake on the bus they probably could put a leash on it,” Dubois retorted.
Concerns were raised about other portions of the bylaw, with Yelland noting amendments can come at any point. Coun. Scott Ford wondered how the city tracks fare evasion. Moellenbeck explained that each person who doesn’t pay is logged by the driver. Bus drivers have stopped asking for payment due to the number of negative interactions that came from confronting people who aren’t paying.
