Gotta love the waiting room… What do you think about dogs on Metro-North? 
I think it is about time that I reclassify the person I refer to as Johnny as one of the White Plains waiting room crazies. I’ve mentioned him before, and that although I’ve seen him smoke with some of the other crazy people, he wasn’t doing anything to really classify himself along with those people. After some of the recent incidents in the waiting room, I have to change my mind. Shouting “fear the deer!” at everyone passing by is a bit odd, but maybe the Bucks won the night before, so I could somewhat understand it. After that he began squawking like a bird, “Fuck you!” to all of the people passing by. A few people looked as if they wanted to punch him, which certainly would have made for some great waiting room video, but a fight never did break out. When he got tired of that, he started talking to nobody in particular how there was a really obnoxious lady on his train that was talking on her cell and wouldn’t shut up. He mimed holding a phone, and kept going “Blah, blah, blah…” over and over. Sir, I agree she was probably annoying, but you are as well, if not even more annoying than she.
I suppose Johnny got tired of all of that, and decided to do something different with his time: hit on ladies in the waiting room. When it was clear that just shouting out “Hey Baby!” was getting him nowhere, he tried a different tact. He went up to the women, and pretended like he knew them. “Don’t you remember me?” It was obvious to everyone else in the waiting room that he didn’t know any of these women. Because as one would pass by, he used the same line on the next. And the next. This is not the first time I’ve witnessed crazy guys attempting to hit on women in this way on the train. Except of course that incident was on the subway, the man later gave up on pursuing women, and he then proceeded to unzipper his pants and pee out the door of the moving train. Is this a common way that guys attempt to pick up girls in the city? Or is it just reserved for the crazies?
A few days later, also in the waiting room in White Plains, I heard crying. Or what I thought was crying. Curious, I looked over to see what was going on. It was not a person crying, it was in fact a small dog, whimpering. The lady who owned the dog told everyone that she was probably scared of all the people, and apologized. I like dogs. Every time I see them on the train, I want to pet them. Or take pictures of them…
This is the dog. I believe her name was Gigi (and hopefully not Gigli). Gigi looks quite similar to my sister’s dog, whom I’ve dubbed Shittles. Living up to his name, one day Shittles fell in the toilet. This caption has little relevance to the story.
I know I have mentioned this subject before, but what do you think about dogs riding Metro-North? (Mind you, I am talking about pet animals, and not service or helping animals of any kind) Of the various MTA agencies, it seems that Metro-North has the more lenient policy when it comes to animals. Long Island Rail Road, as well as New York City Transit (subway and bus) policy is as follows:
Small domestic pets are permitted provided they are carried in kennels or similar containers that can be accommodated by you on your lap without annoyance to other passengers.
Metro-North’s policy contains a little addition…
Small domestic pets are permitted provided they’re carried in kennels or similar containers, or are securely controlled on leashes throughout the trip and do not annoy other customers. Pets should not occupy seats and are subject to approval by the conductor.
Perhaps that is what annoys me about dogs on Metro-North. The leash thing. I like dogs, really, I do. But I hate seeing dogs on leashes being led through the aisles of the train. Or laying and blocking the aisle of the train. Even if the dog was not in any sort of crate, but the owner held the dog while walking, I would find this more acceptable. And I do find it rather bothersome when a person with a small dog on a leash exits the train. There is that little gap that we hear so much about. I know dogs can do tricks and jump over stuff and all, but I do fear that your little chihuahua might not be able to handle it, and that he’s going to fall in the gap. After all, if it were a small child, you’d certainly be holding their hand while stepping over that gap. Why not just pick that dog up?
I am curious what other folks think about dogs on Metro-North. I don’t think I am really annoyed by them, but I do worry about their safety on the train. Should Metro-North be more strict are require them to stay in kennels, like the LIRR? I do recall seeing a woman with a cat in a baby carriage… which is more safe than by leash, I suppose.
Tags: animals, dogs, johnny, lirr, long island rail road, metro north, new york city transit, subway, train station, waiting room, white plains
May 19th, 2010 at 4:01 am
I say be more restrictive. Don’t think it’s very good if a dog or person starts freaking out on a train because of each other. Also, I’ve seen people bring their dog on a leash onto the subway, and not look at their dog once (or where they’re walking, but that’s a different issue). It definitely raised some safety concerns for everyone.
At least if they are in a bag or carrier, they are off the floor, and less likely to get lost in a crowd/be surrounded.
[Reply]
May 19th, 2010 at 10:15 am
I’m with Eric. I’m a dog owner and I’ve taken my dog everywhere, including airports. She’s pretty mellow and used to being around lots of people, but there are safety concerns here because who knows? The guy peeing out the train hitting on women might just try to hit on me or something and my dog could freak out about that and cause some kind of issue with my fellow passengers. As well-trained and acclimated as she is, she’s a dog, first and foremost and the trains are loud, the people are loud, and there are lots of freaky smells that might get her agitated, too. I do think it’s okay to bring your small dog on the train in a carry-on kennel like owners do with small dogs at airports because that ensures that they’re not going to go running around or bother other passengers. My dog is too big for one of those, and I certainly don’t think the MTA should change its policies to accommodate all dogs. If you can’t easily carry your dog in a carry-on kennel, then it’s too big for the train.
All that said–assistance dogs are another matter entirely, but I rarely see those on the train, anyway, maybe because the owners know how scary it can be for dogs, even assistance-trained dogs.
Thanks for the blog!
[Reply]
May 23rd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Let's bring Rudy
[Reply]
May 31st, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Love the blog. My limited experience with dogs on the MNR’s Harlem Line have been fine. I’ve had more issues with two-legged animals than four. Just as I bristle about parents whose children run amok, I’d be equally irritated about dogs running amok, and be equally likely to summon a conductor.
[Reply]
Emily Reply:
May 31st, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Thanks! You’re right… I’ve probably seen more annoying kids on the train than I have dogs. Though there are kids that are legitimately intrigued about riding on the train, those kids are cute to see.
[Reply]
August 19th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Just found this article (great blog), and I’d like to clarify a point–it’s not just small dogs that are allowed on Metro North. Basically, they say any dog up to 65lbs can ride, as long as he or she is well-behaved, on a leash, and doesn’t occupy a seat. It’s up to the discretion of the conductor, and of course it has to be during off-peak hours, which makes sense.
We’ve ridden with two different dogs on the Metro North, to Croton Harmon, Cold Spring, Manitou, etc. I appreciate your concern for dog safety, but I think if you knew more about dogs, you’d realize just how adaptable Canis Familiaris really is, and how much they enjoy adventures. Dogs certainly do better than small children on trains, and IMO, the Metro-North rule should be the rule for all U.S. mass transit. It’s a long-standing policy that has worked incredibly well. And not everybody can afford a car–so those people can’t travel anywhere with their dogs? Basic fairness says dogs should be allowed on trains. It’s the normal thing in Europe, and nobody blinks an eye when a big German Shepherd gets onboard a German train. You actually buy a ticket for your dog there–and I’d happily do so on Metro North, if they would agree that meant the policy was permanent.
As to small dogs, maybe some people should be more careful about boarding and deboarding, but since they could bring their dogs in a carrier anyway, that comes down to personal judgment, just as is does for parents with small children. You do have to trust somebody to know what their dog or child is capable of.
[Reply]
Emily Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
You don’t need to clarify the policy with me, that is copied directly from Metro-North. If they supposedly allow larger dogs under a specific weight limit, this is not mentioned on their website, as the previously stated text was a direct quote from them.
I’m not sure if I ought to be offended by your opinion that I don’t know anything about dogs. Amusingly, I’d actually feel better if people *did* bring their big dogs on the train. Because of their size they have little difficulty with getting over the gap and such. A stupid girl dragging around a 2 pound chihuahua on a leash I think is an accident waiting to happen. As a commuter you get used to seeing dumb people on trains that just don’t pay attention to things.
[Reply]
August 19th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
I apologize if I gave offense, but the specific language refers to ‘small domestic animals’, and since a Clydesdale counts as a domestic animal, pretty much any dog could be considered small by comparison, even a 200lb Mastiff. The 65lbs rule seems to be something they stick in there to try and keep people from experimenting, but the original rule simply states that it must be a small domestic animal, be on a leash, be well-behaved, not occupy a seat, and only ride during off-peak hours.
I’ve seen Golden Retrievers on the Hudson Line, and they certainly weigh more than 65lbs, so it really is up to the conductor’s good judgment, as it should be. As you acknowledge, a large dog may cause fewer problems than a small one–it depends on the dog.
A stupid girl might just as easily be dragging a toddler on a leash, and they’re not going to ban toddlers. The accident has been waiting for happen for about two decades now, and just doesn’t seem to want to happen. You can’t outlaw stupid people on trains, and somebody that stupid could just as easily lose the dog elsewhere. Dog deaths associated with being Metro North passengers–zero. Dog deaths associated with being passengers in automobiles–many.
Remember also, there’s no rule saying the dog has to be out of a container. But for most dog owners, mandating a container means, in practice, that their dogs can’t ride at all. I don’t believe in penalizing responsible people for the deeds of irresponsible people.
It’s a great rule, and should be emulated everywhere. As to the ‘no dumb people on trains’ rule, I’d just as soon start with no dumb people in voting booths, but good luck there. ;)
[Reply]
September 25th, 2011 at 10:51 am
I realize this is an old post, but it caught my attention and sympathies. I am glad when dogs can come along; they make me happy.
It’s true there are badly behaved dogs, but as your post makes clear, there are also badly behaved people. In fact badly behaved dogs are probably a result of badly behaved people. Either are annoying. Too much so and both can be removed from the train.
[Reply]
Emily Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Yeah, I definitely believe that somewhat of a cliche “there is no such thing as bad dogs, just bad owners”
[Reply]