Hendsbee still hopes Halifax ferries can become dog-friendly

The Preston-Chezzetcook-Eastern Shore councillor’s let’s-try-it motion, promoting a pilot project, was defeated in a 10-5 vote in 2017

CITYnews halifax \ Michael Lightstone

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Whatever happened to the notion of furry friends riding on commuter ferries?

Years after he hoped to make the municipality’s ferries more dog-friendly, Coun. David Hendsbee says he’s planning to again present the idea to his colleagues on Halifax regional council.

He said this week he’ll “very soon” bring his proposal for dogs allowed during harbour crossings, in pet carriers to be made available at Halifax Transit’s ferry terminals, to the attention of regional council.

Hendsbee’s let’s-try-it motion, promoting a pilot project, was defeated in a 10-5 vote of council in 2017. His attempt followed a municipal staff report in 2014 that said “staff will investigate” the feasibility of dogs accompanying their owners or handlers on ferries.

The veteran councillor, who represents Preston-Chezzetcook-Eastern Shore, told CityNews Halifax Wednesday he was waiting for work inside ferry terminals to be completed before resurrecting his proposal.

And the coronavirus pandemic, too, impacted Halifax Transit’s ferry service during the last couple of years.

“I was waiting for the renovations … to be finished prior to scouting out spots for potential shelving rack units to house pet carriers of various sizes,” Hendsbee said via email.

“That way, a person with a dog can go to the ferry terminal, borrow an appropriate size carrier to contain the pet,” he said. “Once on the other side of (Halifax Harbour), bring the carrier to another shelving rack, remove the dog and place the carrier onto the shelf for another user.”

The proposed demonstration project wouldn’t include fees for pooch passage over the water.

Hendsbee said in the past that large dogs could perhaps be placed in pet crates on wheels. Then there’s the matter of potential on-site cleaning of dog crates and carriers.

The councillor acknowledged in his email the municipality “may need to consider the need to spray and sanitize the carrier to prevent any transmission of fleas, ticks, etc. Still some research required.”

Hendsbee’s original motion five years ago for Halifax council to consider says this: “Currently, only service dogs are permitted to ride on the ferries.”

Halifax Regional Municipality “is a pet-friendly municipality and responsible pet owners may want to take their dogs with them. HRM should accommodate that need,” it says.

In Montreal, city council Tuesday approved a pilot project to allow people to bring leashed dogs on subway cars. According to the Montreal Gazette, the project is to be in place by the end of the year.

In Calgary, “dogs are welcome on board” public transit, a rider’s guide says. Pets must be on a leash.

Michael Lightstone is a freelance reporter living in Dartmouth