If you are a pup ruvin’ Madrid citizen, or dream of visiting the romantic Spanish city with your pooch in tow, then you are in luck! Although the city has long allowed service dogs and petite pups in carriers to ride public transit, larger dogs were not permitted.
Thanks to new regulations, all dogs are now welcome to ride the Madrid subway system as long as they are leashed and muzzled. The icing on the bone-shaped cake? They can even ride for free outside of peak hours!
Euro Weekly News reported the announcement by Madrid regional premier, Cristina Cifuentes and the mixed reviews of local citizens. Some have expressed concerns about allergies and canine-related shenanigans on the public trains, while others are overjoyed at the prospect of easier travel with their dogs.
The new legislation came about in response to online petitions created by local pet lovers fighting to make the transit system more dog-friendly. Spain has now joined the ranks of European countries, including Italy, England and Norway.
There are a few restrictions that dog parents must abide by before flocking to Madrid’s transit stations. Owners may only ride with one dog at a time, leashes must be no longer than 20 inches, all pups must be muzzled regardless of their bite history, and they may only ride in the train’s last car.
As for the gratis passage, there’s a catch there as well. Dog owners will be expected to pony up the fair for their pooch during the peak travel hours of 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., 2 to 4 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m. However, weekends and holidays are free all day. July & August have also been designated as free months for canine travelers, likely to accommodate increased tourism during the summer.
H/T to Mental Floss and Euro Weekly News
Featured Image via @Kuppi_Coffee/Instagram
