Politics & Government

Should Pets Ride Metra Trains: Vote in Our Poll

More than 3,000 people have signed a change.org petition asking Metra to let pets ride the trains. What do you think?

Written by Dennis Robaugh

Would you be willing to share your Metra train commuter car with a chihuahua? What about a schnauzer, a pug, a Yorkie or a bichon frise? Or even a cat?

A suburban woman is petitioning Metra to change its ban on pets and allow any pet that can fit into a carrier to ride the train. So far, more than 3,300 signatures have been collected on Rena Church's change.org petition.

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"You can take them on the 'L,' you can take them on planes, but you can't take them on Metra," Church told the Chicago Tribune in explaining her petition.

Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said the ban is in place to ensure safety and protect people who are allergic to animals.

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"Metra's policy prohibiting animals on board our trains, except for trained service animals traveling with disabled passengers, is compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act," he wrote in an email to DNAinfo.com

Emily Nuncio Schick knows firsthand the pain of having a Metra car door slammed in her face. She was stranded in Chicago Ridge after taking her cat there for surgery at a vet clinic. When she tried to board  the train for home, a conductor wouldn't let her.

"One of the conductors was really rude to me," she told the Tribune. "He was like, 'You should have read the sign, you should have known the rules.' I was very drained emotionally and started crying."

When she got home, she found Church's petition and signed on.

What do you think? If you're interested in seeing the rule changed, you can find the petition at change.org.


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