Sunshine Coast Media
22-041
September 28, 2022
"You barked we listened" pet pilot launched
VICTORIA – Starting today, for dogs and cats travelling with their owners on the Malaspina Sky, BC Ferries introduced a three-month trial on the Sunshine Coast (Earls Cove) – Powell River (Saltery Bay) route to allow customers to bring their dogs and cats to the upper outside decks on the Malaspina Sky to test the waters and collect customer feedback.
The three-month pilot is the result of answering pet owners requests to allow their furry friends access to outside areas on board. Plans to expand to other routes will depend on “pawsitive” customer feedback.
Dogs must keep their owners on a leash at all times and cats must be in a travel carrier while on the outer decks. Access to the area will be via a designated stairwell, with restricted elevator entry for those with accessibility needs. Paw prints on the deck mark access points. Waste bags and water bowls will be provided, and the area will be routinely cleaned. BC Ferries loves all animals but only dogs on leash and cats in carriers are safe on the on the upper outer decks. There will be a limit of two dogs per owner.
As a reminder, BC Ferries asks drivers to turn off their car alarms while parked on the decks of vessels. Motion can set them off and the noise is very alarming to pets on the vehicle decks. For more information on travelling with pets or on the pet pilot, visit bcferries.com.
Did you know?
- Dog ownership has increased from 7.6 million in 2018 to 7.7 million in 2020
- Approximately 58 per cent of Canadian households report having at least one dog or cat
- The number of passengers travelling on BC Ferries with pets increased from 5.5 per cent in 2018 to 13.7 per cent in 2020
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BC Ferries, Media Relations
Victoria: (250) 978-1267
Customer Contact:
Victoria: (250) 410-1465
Toll-free: 1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779)
Note to newsrooms: For urgent media inquiries off-hours, call our emergency line at (250) 516-7211.