Spain’s RENFE rail operator is giving bigger dogs a chance to ride the rails with their owners, riding in coaches and not in cages.
The trial run started last week, with dogs up to 40 kilos allowed (that’s about 90 pounds) but for now limited to two dogs per train and one dog per passenger. RENFE’s normal rules, except for service dogs, require the dog be in a cage the whole time and weigh under 10 kg.
The trial run is on AVE and long-distance trains between Barcelona and Madrid, with one car on each train fitted with a pet-friendly area. The dogs must be on a leash and wear a muzzle. Owners are expected to provide a blanket, not to feed them during the three-hour ride, to walk them before boarding and to make sure that none of the dogs’ toys are squeaky.
