Pet Hamster?

[FreeskierInVT]

College students and young adults are Amtrak's future life-long clients

^This is very, very true. I always share my positive experiences on Amtrak with my friends. I've introduced three of my friends to Amtrak within the last year, all of whom had never been on a train before, and I'm planning a trip to Boston with five other first-timers this semester.

 

[caravanman]

Folk should just be creative. By carrying the little critter "internally" you avoid any allergy issues to others.

Probably better to stand throughout the whole journey though...

Ed

 

[jis]

Folk should just be creative. By carrying the little critter "internally" you avoid any allergy issues to others.

Probably better to stand throughout the whole journey though...

Ed

Oh my!

 

[JoeBas]

Folk should just be creative. By carrying the little critter "internally" you avoid any allergy issues to others.

Probably better to stand throughout the whole journey though...

Ed

Oh my!

IBTL.

 

[user 1215]

Whereas I generally agree with 7deuceman on how to treat guests/newbies/visitors/etc., I also agree that to encourage breaking the rules is generally not OK.

What if... say... I wanted some promotional photos to put on a new album cover? I know it's illegal to trespass, but how can I do it without being caught?

 

[SarahZ]

Aren't you a little old to have a pet hamster?

Hamsters don't have an age limit. They're really cute, and they're great for people who can't have a larger pet.

 

[pianocat]

Does JetBlue have a route from NYC to Syracuse? They have a small pet policy, it says "small dogs and cats " but might make an exception for a hamster if kept in a similarly protected container. My daughter and husband moved from PHL to LAX with their 2 cats in the cabin with them a couple of years ago. The carrier counts as the 'carry on'. It's an option, if there's a routing available.....and doesn't break any rules.

 

[D.P. Roberts]

Except all of the people with severe allergies who don't expect to be bothered by pet dander/fur while onboard.

This is a red herring. People should stop bringing up this red herring.
I have severe allergies to polyester and nobody is doing a thing to remove polyester from the train. I know people with severe allergies to perfume and nobody does a thing to prevent perfume on the train. There are going to be animals all around when these hypothetical allergic people are at train stations, going to and from the train station, etc. If you have allergies and you travel, you have to be prepared to be exposed. And no, the hypothetical person with allergies would not be informed in advance of the presence of a service dog.

Informed in advance? No, I didn't say that. You'll notice that what I said was that the family could talk to the conductor or the car attendant & find out if there were service animals onboard, and possibly move to another car. The problem (in my opinion) isn't that there are animals around, it's that there are animals SECRETLY around.

For example, a local elementary school has a "peanut free zone" in their lunchroom. Kids with severe allergies can sit there & know that they're not going to be exposed to any allergens. However, if some kid were to sneak a PB&J into that zone thinking that "it's not going to hurt anybody" - well, someone might be hurt.

Someday, Amtrak may allow pets onboard. At that point, people with severe allergies will have to find alternate transportation - probably their own cars. But today is not that day. I don't think that allergy sufferers who are counting on an allergy-free zone should be exposed to "secret" pets. My problem is not with the pets per se, it's the idea that breaking a "little rule" is never going to hurt anybody, when it sure might.

And as to it being a "red herring" - published reports show that more people are allergic to rodents than to dogs or cats.

 

[me_little_me]

No one was insulting anyone that actually requires a service animal.

I'm going from Penn Station (NYC) to Syracuse. It's a little over 5 Hours.

Unfortunately, all the bus carriers I checked (Trailways as well as Greyhound) also stupidly prohibit pets. This is really going to have to change. Most people in the US have pets, and more and more people don't want to drive.

You don't like it so it's "stupid"? There are legitimate reasons for not allowing pets - The time of travel issue which could be a health problem for the pet, the hassle of having to handle the pet (especially if it gets away), and the possible health or safety hazard to patrons if the pet bites. Then there is the biggest issues - lawsuits and media coverage! No matter how many disclaimer forms people sign, there will be lawsuits - possibly by other patrons too. And if Johnny's pet snake gets away, think of the media coverage. "Snakes on a Train - are you in danger. News at 11!"

Except all of the people with severe allergies who don't expect to be bothered by pet dander/fur while onboard.

This is a red herring. People should stop bringing up this red herring.

It's not a red herring. That's a fish. It's a hamster. :giggle: :giggle: :giggle:

 

[greatcats]

College Student: Please let me know by what means you reach Syracuse. This thread has turned me into a nervous wreck and I'm worried about you and your hamster! Unfolding Drama on Amtrak Unlimited! You won 't offend me if you and pet get there by train. With respect to some if the other posters, one if my favorite college professors told me many years ago " Don't take no for an answer. Rules were meant to be broken. ". ( I don't agree with that in every situation and am a law abiding citizen- I think. )

 

[gone fishing]

I just checked priceline and hotwire and a one way car drop is about $200. If someone could drive you, you could rent round trip for 1 day for under $40.

We wouldn't want to break any rules like wine in the sports bottle or a nip in coach or the observation car or a carry on hamster

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I just checked priceline and hotwire and a one way car drop is about $200. If someone could drive you, you could rent round trip for 1 day for under $40.

We wouldn't want to break any rules like wine in the sports bottle or a nip in coach or the observation car or a carry on hamster

Touche'

 

[caravanman]

I guess you could just buy another hamster when you get to wherever... although it would need re-training, if you will forgive the pun...

Ed

 

[MattW]

No one was insulting anyone that actually requires a service animal.

I'm going from Penn Station (NYC) to Syracuse. It's a little over 5 Hours.

Unfortunately, all the bus carriers I checked (Trailways as well as Greyhound) also stupidly prohibit pets. This is really going to have to change. Most people in the US have pets, and more and more people don't want to drive.

You don't like it so it's "stupid"? There are legitimate reasons for not allowing pets - The time of travel issue which could be a health problem for the pet, the hassle of having to handle the pet (especially if it gets away), and the possible health or safety hazard to patrons if the pet bites. Then there is the biggest issues - lawsuits and media coverage! No matter how many disclaimer forms people sign, there will be lawsuits - possibly by other patrons too. And if Johnny's pet snake gets away, think of the media coverage. "Snakes on a Train - are you in danger. News at 11!"

And yet, airlines seem to have compromise policies that allow pets, and they do just fine. Why are Amtrak and the intercity bus lines so special?

 

[Meat Puppet]

I don't know whats more exciting, the Hamtrak saga or the snow in the vestibule video.

 

[SarahZ]

I don't know whats more exciting, the Hamtrak saga or the snow in the vestibule video.

Oh my god... I'm dying...

 

[FriskyFL]

By encouraging behavior which is explicitly against Amtrak's terms of transportation, you're inviting the OP to enjoy a unique view of Amtrak - he and his beloved rodent watching the red light receding into the distance from some rural grade crossing.

Not everyone finds little furry critters endearing - and all it takes is one to report the OP to the conductor, who would probably have no choice but to eject said passenger and said rodent.

 

[the Other Mike]

So, if the train gets stuck in snow, will the rodent be happy with beef stew and mashed potatoes, or will it be served as an emergency meal to the cat that was smuggled aboard ?

 

[henryj]

A hamster is a tiny little rodent. Can't you just put it in your luggage for the short 5+hour train ride and don't tell anyone about it? That's what I would do. The thing will just sleep through the trip. My roommate had hamsters in college and they had babies. My bro and I had hamster pets when we were boys. They got loose in the house. lol. If it's cage is too large just ship the cage and find a small one that fits in your carry on bags. How did you get it home, or is your first trip with it?

 

[D.P. Roberts]

And yet, airlines seem to have compromise policies that allow pets, and they do just fine. Why are Amtrak and the intercity bus lines so special?

The pet discussion has come up many, many times before on this forum - usually in this very context (someone trying to sneak a pet onboard). The real logistical reason is that pets, at some point, will have to relieve themselves. They're usually on an airplane for no more than 2-3 hours, and can hold it - most dogs and cats won't soil their crates in that short period of time. But a train trip may last for days.

I love cats, and being able to bring them with me on a train would be helpful. But do you really want me to set up a litterbox in my roomette?

 

[henryj]

Aaaaaaaaa hamsters do it in their cage anyway. I have never seen one on a leash. lol

 

[me_little_me]

No one was insulting anyone that actually requires a service animal.

I'm going from Penn Station (NYC) to Syracuse. It's a little over 5 Hours.

Unfortunately, all the bus carriers I checked (Trailways as well as Greyhound) also stupidly prohibit pets. This is really going to have to change. Most people in the US have pets, and more and more people don't want to drive.

You don't like it so it's "stupid"? There are legitimate reasons for not allowing pets - The time of travel issue which could be a health problem for the pet, the hassle of having to handle the pet (especially if it gets away), and the possible health or safety hazard to patrons if the pet bites. Then there is the biggest issues - lawsuits and media coverage! No matter how many disclaimer forms people sign, there will be lawsuits - possibly by other patrons too. And if Johnny's pet snake gets away, think of the media coverage. "Snakes on a Train - are you in danger. News at 11!"

And yet, airlines seem to have compromise policies that allow pets, and they do just fine. Why are Amtrak and the intercity bus lines so special?

Again, how does having a policy you don't like be considered "stupid"? As I pointed out, there are legitimate reasons to disallow it. Each company makes its own policy. If you don't like it; you can organize a group to complain to the company, you can boycott; you can complain to your lawmakers. But calling it "stupid" makes no sense.

By the way, cabin and checked fees for pets are not cheap. PER SEGMENT fees I found (9 airlines):

Cabin pets: $75-$125

Checked pets: $100-$250 with over half not allowing them

Plus this rule for cabin pets: Per Federal Aviation Administration regulations, the pet carrier must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you, allowing for other passengers to easily reach the aisle.

With those fees, I'd encourage Amtrak to allow them and charge the same fee with the same restrictions (under seat).

 

[shelzp]

Last summer I was on the EB and a woman who had been in the handicapped room with her service dog jumped off the train in St. Paul and both she and the dog ran to her parked convertible. She threw the top down and they sped off. It was like something out of a movie.

 

[7deuceman]

On any given Amtrak sector, there are potential travelers who could use safe and cost-effective transportation for their pets. Certainly potentially dangerous pets like spiders and reptiles should likely not be accepted for carriage. However, dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and other small mammals could very easily ride in a baggage car during reasonable weather conditions.

A basic surcharge could be applied for the cages/kennels and it has the potential create revenue and to draw attention to Amtrak.

A terms of carriage memo could be created to ensure that everyone knows the drill and the pet is comfortable enroute..

Pet owners are very concerned about safety and more than likely will follow the rules presented by Amtrak.

To solve space issues, Amtrak could assign certain areas in the baggage car to pet carriage, just like the new bike carriers on

the Viewliner cars.

If my memory serves, some Superliner cars have adequate climate-controlled baggage space below deck, just right for pets.

Apart from vacation travel with owners, there are other circumstances where animals need to be transported carefully and with minimal exposure to altitude and the elements. In America, there are pet shows where all types of the mammals mentioned before, and their owners need transportation.

Safe and cost-effective pet carriage domestically, is a wide-open market. If Amtrak uses their resources properly, they could gain some business, make some friends and help many people at the same time.

 

[June the Coach Rider]

Last summer I was on the EB and a woman who had been in the handicapped room with her service dog jumped off the train in St. Paul and both she and the dog ran to her parked convertible. She threw the top down and they sped off. It was like something out of a movie.

Are you saying just because she could run that she is not handicapped. There are other handicaps besides not being able to walk or run. Just saying, sometimes disabilities are not physical.

Edited to add: Plus service dogs are used many times for people with PTSD and that would not limit her from being able to run or drive her convertible.