I am MILO KOTNALA, a Six-year-old Beagle who travels a lot and today, on 11th December, I am celebrating my sixth birthday with a special pet-only cake from ‘OH MY PETS’ Dehradun. What fun! This cake is not meant for humans. I like it as a service and product. So, I thought today was as good as any other day to thank the Indian railways that ensure Pet Travel. My last travel was between Indore and Saharanpur, in the cosy, comfortable environment of the First AC.
Maybe it is a time when I can bring to the notice of the Railway Minster and the Railway team responsible for product design some of the possible things that could further improve Pet Travel. Maybe the animal welfare minister would also agree, and the NGOs could supplement the efforts for these changes.
Please sign the petition to help railways listen and consider the change in the pet travel process. Covers Point 1-2 and 3.
Point 1- Remove the Four-Hour Anxiety Trap.
Please note we Pets are very attached to our Pet Parents. Though we can’t communicate in the languages, we understand each other. Their anxiety rubs on us, and we get anxious. The cause is usually the wait for allocation of a coupe (2 travellers) or an entire cabin (4 travellers)- which happens some 4 hours before the train departure time. Now imagine holding the confirmed ticket, making all the preparations, and then waiting for the lottery. And, if, for any reason, one is unlucky not to get the Coupe or Cabin – everything goes for a toss. Can’t you tweak the process so that the Cabin or Coupe, as per request, is automatically allotted if a pet is travelling? And if a person is caught travelling on such a ticket without the Pet- the person Is heavily penalised,
Point-2. Stop The Parcel Office Booking.
Now that one gets the Cabin or Coupe, the Pet’s parents must go early to the station to book the Pet. It’s different that the stations do not have proper space for Pets and pet parents to wait even after buying the first AC tickets. The person must then produce an original pet health certificate (Not older than 48 hours) declaring the Pet fit to travel, vaccination certificates, proof of coupe-cabin allotment and a copy of the Aadhar card as an identity. I thought humans were more intelligent than this. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to have these documents, which could be communicated during the ticket booking ( see the pint- Four Hour anxiety above). The documents can be checked on the train.
Why not allow the pet owners to buy the Pet ticket as per weight and distance, It is easy to implement. This will be an added benefit and improve the service; the Pet will have to spend less time in the unknown environment, reducing anxiety. The pet owners will also be happy.
Point 3- Allow Booking an Extra berth For The Pet.
Now, it is okay when Two or Four pet owners are travelling with the Pet. The two owners can apply for the Coupe and the four for the Cabin. This is fine as this ensures that the other travellers are not disturbed and no one has an objection.
But what if there is one – single pet parent travelling with the Pet? Now, the system does not allow a coupe or cabin allocation. This means a single pet parent cannot travel with the Pet. The same is true for three people of a pet family travelling- as the fourth passenger can object and everything falls. In fact, if they do not have the complete Cabin of four berths allocated to them- the parcel office won’t even entertain booking the Pet to travel with them.
Why don’t the railways allow the Pet’s parent to book an extra berth in the name of the Pet? That way, the Railways earn more, and the pet parent and the Pet do not go through the anxious moments. (Read this with point 1- the four-hour anxiety), Then, it will solve many issues.
Point 4- Pet Travels Needs Longer Stops After A GAP.
We all know that railways have been reducing the number of general bogies in trains, putting pressure on less privileged citizens while travelling. One must see the fight and crowding at stations. We pets mostly have the caches next to them and find ourselves far more privileged than them. It does not make sense. There are more general bogies on slow trains and very few on fast trains.
Do the less privileged citizens not having enough funds to travel AC have no right to faster trains? I am concerned about all the travellers, though I speak for the pets.
But there is another problem. You have also been very selective in having First AC in fewer trains. No Indore-Dehradun train has a First AC; I had to take an Indore-Saharanpur ticket on the Indore Amritsar train and then a cab from Saharanpur to Dehradun. That made a long 23-hour journey.
Now, the First ACs are mainly in the faster and longer distance trains like the Durontos and Rajdhanis of the world, known to travel fast with fewer and short-duration stops. Not enough for the pet parents to take their Pet down and move them around for them to poo or pee. Just know that our needs are different, and we need that little walk, that smell and the right ambience to do so. It takes time. So, a request and this is a tough one.
Can we have a slightly longer stop- say 5 minutes every 6-hour travel? This will essentially solve the issue. And, is it possible to have more trains with First AC?
Point 5- Insist on Pet License during Pet Travel.
Though the law requires Pet parents to have pet licenses. That means they register their pets with the local civil bodies, but most parents avoid it. Railways can help by insisting that a travelling pet must have a license. You know, like the humans, have the identity card- Aadhar. It will make us feel better, the records will be well maintained, and we can even link these two- so that vaccination, health, etc., are available with a click of the mouse or touch of a finger.
Point 6- Asking for too much.
This is for the IRCTC catering department, and I know I may be asking for too much. As for the humans, IRCTC could encourage the Pet Food caterers and providers in a few of the stations as an experiment.
NETNET.
I appreciate the need for the documentation, and it should be the responsibility of the pet parents to ensure that they have the required original documents and copies. Please do ask for the Pet License. In fact, the Pet License departments – which are typically computerised- should also keep records of pet vaccination. PetDigiLocker!
I understand that the quota system and VIP allocation on First AC are the reasons for not allotting berths while tickets are booked online. This can still be resolved by assigning the initial Quota for the pet owners, identifying them online, and using inbuilt algorithms to help the process. It seems stupid not to do so. If we could do a bit, many pets and pet parents would feel less anxious and more comfortable travelling. We, the pets, will definitely thank you for the service. Railways could take the lead and leap in Pet travel- a segment waiting to be serviced.
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION
Here is the petition that you can sign and help in making this heard and considered by the railways.
