Montréal, October 3, 2024 – Today, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) officially announced that it will permanently allow dogs in the metro. In response to the Fido in the Metro campaign launched by the Montreal SPCA in 2021, a pilot project was implemented in 2022 and was a welcome relief for families living with dogs in Montréal. 

The Fido Takes the Metro campaign collected almost 18,000 signatures from residents asking Mayor Valérie Plante and Chair of the STM board Éric Alan Caldwell to allow dogs in the metro. Many major cities around the world, including Paris, London, Berlin, Barcelona and San Francisco, in addition to Calgary and Toronto in Canada, welcome dogs on public transportation. Montréal is taking an important step by allowing them in the metro. 

“We thank the STM for listening to the public and are grateful to everyone who signed the petition,” says Sophie Gaillard, Director of Animal Advocacy and Legal and Government Affairs at the Montreal SPCA.  

“Allowing dogs in public spaces like the metro provides them with more opportunities to exercise and socialize, which reduces the risk of developing undesirable behaviour,” says Gaillard. “By treating dogs as members of the community, we make it easier to live together in harmony.” 

The timing of this new bylaw is perfect since people are increasingly being encouraged to use public transportation to get around. It will also make it easier for low-income families to get to veterinary clinics and Montréal’s large green spaces.  

However, as Gaillard points out, metro access only solves part of the problem. “Given that a significant proportion of Montrealers live a considerable distance from a metro station, we feel that dogs should also be allowed on the bus network, and we intend to pursue our discussions with the STM on this matter.” 

A few rules for metro travel with a dog

• Travel must take place during off-peak hours on weekdays or at any time on weekends and during public holidays.  
• We strongly recommend that you avoid travelling with a dog in the train’s frontmost car, which has priority use for school groups, day-care services, people with functional limitations and bicycles.
• Dogs must wear a muzzle.
• Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
• Any  “mess” must be picked up.
• Each person may be accompanied by only one dog. 

The Montreal SPCA offers advice on travelling with your dog in the metro, including how to determine whether your dog is socialized enough to take public transportation and how to get your dog used to wearing a muzzle. 

– 30 – 

Source : Montreal SPCA www.spca.com/en/

Media information:  
Tök communications 514 247-0526 
Marie-Hélène Avon, mariehelene@tokcommunications.ca  

About the Montreal SPCA 
Founded in Montréal in 1869, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (now known simply as the Montreal SPCA) was the first animal welfare organization in Canada. The SPCA has come a long way since: it is now the largest animal welfare organization in Quebec and speaks on behalf of animals wherever there is ignorance, cruelty, exploitation or neglect.