Passengers and their pets
Yet another feature of incompetence by the Arriva drivers was displayed on November 7 when a driver of 106 bus in Lija did not allow me onboard because of my dog!
I have seen this happening with other passengers too as many drivers are unaware of the rules allowing pets on board. People are consistently being refused to board a bus because of a dog.
This is simply ignorance on the drivers’ part and is against Arriva rules because their regulations state that pets are allowed on board.
It is no proper excuse to portray this kind of ignorance or show pure selfishness if the driver does not happen to like dogs. Arriva should make all drivers aware that pets are allowed; we are living in the 21st century, after all. If my pets have flown with me all around the world and stayed in the best hotels, then it is ridiculous not to allow them on a bus in Malta.
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Michael Asquith
Nov 13th 2012, 18:59
The last thing you need on a bus is a dog! What happens in the - admidadly highly, highly, unlikely - event of a crash? Who wants a frightened dog running about which would more than likely bite someone? Mr Micallef, can we also add BEACHES please to the list of illegal areas where selfish dog owners impose their pets on everybody. It's not on.
C Cassar
Nov 13th 2012, 10:39
Arriva have very clear regulations on the carriage of animals on their services. Annika Vaisanen clearly did not bother to check before she travelled.
Arriva were perfectly correct in this instance to refuse to take her animal onboard. Well done Arriva.
A. MICALLEF
Nov 13th 2012, 09:47
Animals should never be allowed on public transportation, in cafes, restaurants and shops.
The insistence of owners of dogs who pretend to have a right to impose their dogs on all
is no longer acceptable. The authorities are doing nothing to stop these people from
littering all pavements and enter everywhere with their dogs. This is all illegal.
Victor Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 15:22
Arriva on animals
Guide dogs...will be carried at any time. All other animals, that will not be a danger or nuisance...are allowed to travel...only if they are placed in suitable containers.... If you bring any animal onto a bus, you will be held responsible for any damage....
Anthony Borg
Nov 12th 2012, 16:27
Mr. Zammit comment makes much more sense, Mr. Franco Farrugia
kenny greenan
Nov 12th 2012, 12:04
Why not charge double for dogs?
After all they have twice as many legs ! And most of them are foreign, e.g German Shepherd, Shetland Collie, Afghan Hound, Italian Greyhound, Irish Wolfhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, English Cocker, Even my own Scottish Deerhound & Scottish Terrier [little & large!]
Only the proud Maltese terrier should be the correct fair
THAT IS THE BUS RULES IN MALTA ?
Peter Murray
Nov 12th 2012, 18:00
Nice one Kenny
Pippo de Marco
Nov 13th 2012, 08:27
Oh Kenny, what have you done ?
The Ministry is going to be flooded with Maltese Terrier owners demanding Doggy ID cards so that they can pay cheaper bus fares. Worse still for the government, it will shortly have yet another discrimination case to answer in the EU.
Nice one, Austin. Well thought out :-))
Franco Farrugia
Nov 12th 2012, 11:56
@ Mr Camilleri: Please,be careful how to address people, especially if you are not in the know. What you have just quoted refers to rules governing pets on board AIRCRAFT! And if Arriva has chosen to adopt such a rule,cut-and-paste, then it shows that even Arriva are now sinking to rock bottom, as is our country, in things relative to pets! Weigh your words well, when in doubt.
paul camilleri
Nov 12th 2012, 13:34
Mr Farrugia , apparently you sir need to do some reserch as the comments i made were taken out of Arriva Web site concerning animals. and if they are copiying airmalta then i say to you sir that why people need to take pets on holiday is beyond me!and are better off donating the fair money to animal wellfair.
Anthony Borg
Nov 12th 2012, 13:49
No, I will not weigh my words well as you put it.
I am not aware of Arriva's rules when boarding a bus with pets, but I will definitely not allow someone to sit next to me with an animal.
We leave our Irish setter and budgie at home, not take them for a bus a ride. If we need the vet, we use our car.
paul camilleri
Nov 12th 2012, 11:20
one must question your remark about havng your pet flown around the world and stayed at the best hotels. if your so rich to afford that why dont you buy yourself a bus and chaffuer an have them drive you around Malta how you please no cages necessary!!
Pippo de Marco
Nov 12th 2012, 15:48
My thoughts exactly, Paul. But you beat me to the keyboard :)
Perhaps Arriva could commission some new triple-bendy buses with a pet car at the rear ?
Or just maybe the dog could be left at home ? - And if it can't be left alone, then it shouldn't be on a bus.
Peter Murray
Nov 12th 2012, 10:55
If this is indeed Arriva's confirmed regulation that states that ALL dogs without exception are allowed on board their buses-and not just seeing-eye or other special needs dogs-then any driver breaking this regulation should be reported and be subject to the appropriate disciplinary action.So why not direct your concern to Arriva and let us know the outcome via the Times
paul camilleri
Nov 13th 2012, 10:16
simple Murrey, the owner of the dog probably had a normal pet , uncaged and perhaps even barking at the driver!!! besides if i travelled the world as she claims with her pet what i find disgusting is that she did not donate the money to animal welfare instead of spending it on her pets holiday? i always thought dog owners were suppose to walk and exercise their dogs not take them for a bus ride!
paul camilleri
Nov 12th 2012, 10:46
Ms Vaisanen maybe your the one that is incompetent read Arriva rules on Pets Animals
Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs will be carried at any time.All other animals, that will not be a danger or nuisance to other passengers or staff, are allowed to travel on our services only if they are placed in suitable containers or carriers and held on the accompanying person's laps.
Peter Murray
Nov 12th 2012, 11:59
I agree that the correspondent may not have done enough thorough research- but have you?As even though the lady never mentioned it you appear to automatically assume that the type of dog actually allowed was NOT the type she might have been compelled to possess-as in a special assistance dog- with the special assistance possibly not readily evident to the driver-did he ask this question?
paul camilleri
Nov 12th 2012, 13:38
all i can say to Mr Murrey is that it is obvious the woman did not have her pet locked up in a cage or the driver would of accepted it, again if the dog looked vicious although in the cage the driver has the right to refuse it. should of the dog been of special aid to the person again while taking the time to write the letter she would of stated such giving her argument more force.
JIMMY ATANASIO
Nov 12th 2012, 13:52
what about the people that are alergic to animals.are they supposed to ignore them and to hell with them.i say no to animals on publc transportation.some seeing eye dogs yes but you can't start giving way to everybody
Mark Thorogood
Nov 12th 2012, 10:23
http://www.arriva.com.mt/arriva-faqs?l=1#question16
Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs will be carried on our buses at any time. All other animals, that will not be a danger or nuisance to other passengers or staff, are allowed to travel on our services (at no charge) only if they are placed in suitable containers or carriers, and held on the accompanying person's laps.
Please choose the reason of your report below: