To be shocked at seeing a dog in a pram on the bus.

[Gwlondon]

I was on the bus today with my ten month old DS. Another lady got on with a pram with a dog in it. I was a bit shocked and sniggered a bit to myself. I even looked again just to check it was a dog- it was a small dog. No idea what breed. BUT THEN we got to a stop and you could tell that the bus driver was telling a lady in a wheel chair that she couldn't get on because there was no space.

As the bus pulled away I rang the bell to say that I would get off with my pram. Bit of a cuffle to get off. The wheelchair user then caught up with bus and eventually got on to share the wheelchair/pram area with a dog in a pram!

AIBU to think that the world has gone mad! I was half sniggering and as I walked the rest of the way home. I still can't believe it.

[OTheHugeManatee]

Are you sure it wasn't just one of these?

[Popoozle]

Anyone who is surprised to see a dog in a pram obviously didn't live in Lichfield in the 1970's/1980's.

We had "Bertha The Dog Lady", she was an old lady who lived in a caravan in the woods with 12 dogs. She had a big old Silver Cross pram that she used to push 5 or 6 dogs at a time around in, with the rest walking along next to her. Obviously, the dogs in the pram weren't huge dogs but I seem to remember some of the "walking" ones being a bit bigger. She was a local legend .

There is even an online petition to get a statue erected in her memory. All of her dogs were strays that she had taken in over the years .

[Gwlondon]

Sorry RL got in the way. Thank you to everyone that posted. I love mumsnet!

I must admit you have made me think that I only had empathy for the lady in the wheelchair and I didn't really think much about the dog nor the owner. The owner looked younger than me so I did judge her a bit.

Also I have laughed a lot. Thanks for all the links and stories. Lots to think about.

[Booboostoo]

I don't see why people are surprised at the idea of a dog using a pram. We have a dog with mobility issues and I carry him in a racksack for part of his walks, otherwise he would not be able to come walking with us at all. I can totally see how I would use a pram for a larger breed.

Having said that, I think it's totally unreasonable for a dog in a pram to take up the space of a disabled person on a bus. In such a situation the wheelchair user should take priority and the dog owner should have disembarked and waited for the next bus.

[DaxMad]

Whilst searching 'dog pushchairs', I came across this thread at the bottom of the first page on google. I read the responses as I was interested to see what the general consensus was on this topic. I realise these posts were over a year ago now, but I'm sticking my two pence worth in!

One question - aren't mums meant to be compassionate people?

Having 4 kids of my own, and 4 small breed dogs, and one of these dogs is an 18 week old pup that I bred myself and is disabled - I was actually really shocked and saddened by the narrow minded opinion of most of the comments on here. I NEED a pushchair to get my disabled dog from A to B when I am walking the other 3 and also when I have my children in tow - it's a no brainier, how else am I going to get her around?

I agree that the person on the bus should have given up their space for the disabled person, but that's not what the majority of this thread was about, it's about the horror of why on earth a dog would needed be pushed around - I have never seen so much narrow minded opinion!

My husband is disabled, my son is mentally disabled, my sister is disabled - how is it funny or unfathomable that a dog can be disabled too? They are made up of bones, brain, organs just as we are. They grew in a womb like we did, like our kids did, and sometimes things go wrong, like it does in humans too.

And sometimes, even though its clearly rare, there is someone out there who is caring enough to take that dog under their wing and love them and care for them just the way they are. Personally, I think a few people should be really ashamed of themselves for their comments. Quite glad my kids are growing up in a home where equality and compassion play a massive part.

[Floggingmolly]

I saw a cat in a buggy being pushed round Sainsburys once, the buggy had the rain cover down and the cat was clawing at it yowling to get out
Very surreal experience.

[JumpingJackSprat]

I think if i bred a puppy that was too disabled to walk i would have it put down out of kindness. how is it sustainable or compassionate to let the dog go 15 years unable to walk? Its not a human.

[5318008]

ummm Zombie thread folks

[LadyBeagleEyes]

Mumsnet is surreal tonight.

[apostropheuse]

Good grief dogs in prams! There's no reason whatsoever for dogs to be in fecking prams - and especially on a bus, stopping a human being from being able to use the bloody bus. It's bizarre.

Oh, and the mad dog lady should have got off the bus - not you.

[likeitorlumpit]

see dogs in prams where i live all the time , mostly trampy old woman pushing them , bit like a shameless set where we live so its not shocking :)

[Maggie111]

It might have been said elsewhere here - but Assistance Dogs need to be acclimatised to all situations so from a very early age. They're not allowed to be on the floor in public spaces before the age of about 12 weeks - but from 8 weeks they can be taken out and about to see the world and get used to the noises etc in a pram.

[nobeer]

I saw one in Belgium last year. I'm a bit short sighted and was thinking, aah how cute, a little baby. Then realised it was a fecking dog dressed up in baby clothes.

[LimitedEditionLady]

ive seen an old man with his dog in a pram because the dog couldnt walk far,i dont care if anyone thinks im mad but i thought it was lovely that he was still making sure the dog got out and about.why not?

[Booboostoo]

The dog owner should have given priotity on the bus to the wheelchair user - no question about that, however there are many circumstances where dogs might be in prams.

Puppies need to see the world without being exposed to diseases, many people use prams for this or even those child buggy attachments for bicycles.

Dogs may be temporarily unable to walk due to illnesses or recovering from operations and a pram is a nice way to keep their brains entertained seeing the world.

Disabled dogs may need prams and I don't think a welfare decision can be made in abstract without knowing the exact dog and his circumstances. I have had a dog cart (like a doggie wheelchair) for a disabled dog and it gave him another lease of life. He used it not just to walk but to run around like mad and made his last months of life worth living.

[Siobhan487]

We have two dogs, eldest one is now 18 and has lung problems. This means he is quite wheezy and gets out of breath very quickly. At home he potters around the house/garden fine, Sun bathes on the grass, eats/sleeps and is perfectly happy. No reason at all to have him put down just because he can't walk far. Dc and I walk the dogs when we get in from school, the eldest one can barely make it to the end of the road - he is very slow and wheezing like a steam train by then. Carrying him kills my back - he's a good 10kg, so a buggy is our solution too. He potters to the end of the road, we put him in the buggy - carry on our walk - he sits sniffing at the air as he goes along (eyesight not great now either) and has a change of scene and is with us - the other dog gets a decent walk, no one is left behind. I did feel a bit of a plonker with it at first but then thought "Sod it - we're harming no-one so why not?" Haven't been on a bus with him, but I would if we were going to a specific park or something, however would definitely get off in favour of a wheelchair and dc/other dog and I would walk.

I don't really understand why so many people would judge us for doing this? Why should he have to miss out on going out or be put down just for being old?

[LimitedEditionLady]

Siobhan487 if i had the chance to keep my dog and i couldve just took in the pram i wouldve too.why not let them still enjoy walks?if theyre happy then sod anyone who thinks its not right.my dog had to go to sleep he had kidney failure and didnt eat drink or move,he was just asleep all the time and how i wish i could still take him out and be with him.id carry him in a papouse to have him back!

[Moominsarehippos]

I see quite a few around here. Not neecssarily disabled dogs more pampered poochies being perambled around by the maids (usually with looks of resignation). I always say the same thing 'crikey! That's an ugly baby!'. Mainly they smile.

Harrods sell them, and posh doggy handbags (for the owner to hold, not the dog).

[Siobhan487]

Limited EditionLady I'm so sorry - I understand it rips out your heart having to be the one to decide not to carry on with them. We had our youngest dog put to sleep in Jan due to cancer/heart problems. He was 13 and never ever expected to lose him first. I cried for about a month every time I looked at his spot in the living room - couldn't get my head around him not being there. We are now left with a very fit 15 year old who bounds about and thinks he's 5 and our ancient 18 year old who potters and goes out for rides.

When the 18 year old was a pup, he was very ill and was told by the vet that he may recover but would never live a normal length of life. Well he did recover although with damaged lungs and has had several other very close calls since then - infections and liver problems us leaving him at vets dc and me sobbing and the vets promising to try but not holding out much hope that we'd get him back again - then next day the vet phoning up saying "Erm, yes he's fine now - you can come and get him". I think we've just been very, very lucky and he is a stubborn little bugger (in temperament as well - very strong personality!) He's a Lhasa as well, was told by everyone that he'd never last as long as a cross breed, not as hardy etc but since we got him we've got and lost another dog and my Dad has lost two of his both cross breeds, so maybe it's just that Lhasa's are hardy? The 15 year old is a Lhasa too. The one we lost was a spaniel.

[LimitedEditionLady]

Mine was a sheep dog.it was the hardest thing ive ever had to decide but i had to think about his quality of life.he was a very proud male and he was such a good lad and i couldnt let him struggle on with these new problems and bad athiritis just because it was hard for me to say goodbye.he was 13 but even though people say oh he had a good life it doesnt make me grieve for him any less.ive never not had a dog and its empty without him.so yeah if a pram helps your doggy then who cares what they think cos youd do anything to make them confortable and they obviously dont understand what a bond you have when you love a dog.

[Elenkalubleton]

Thinking of getting pushchair for our 3year old burmese walks on a lead,loves the car take him most places with us, he's very sociable and interactive hates being left runs to the door when he senses were going out.We like walking,cat likes strolling,pushchair ideal when he gets tired.were not mad just practical,he's not allowed out on his own.Is doing your own thing perceived as eccentric?

[MyBaby1day]

Ha ha, aawww. I liked sparkling upto now but now I know she'll be getting a dog in a pram I'm suddenly feeling a bit envious!

[janebex]

I think its a great idea as you wouldn't have to leave your dog at home alone when you went out shopping for the day as it would mean when you wanted to go into a shop your dog could just jump into the pushchair and you could take her in the store with you. You could even go into a restaurant for a meal as they would be settled and out of the way in the pushchair. They could then walk again when you were outside the shop or shopping centre.

[HamsterDam]

there's a lady near me with a dog in a pram and one that walks so the one in the pram must be old or disabled. i would rather not have a smelly dog next to my clean baby on the bus but she doesn't take them far.
dogs in restaurants in prams or not just no. once had a lady with her dog on her lap at the table in the restaurant i was working at. politely informed her that dogs were not allowed in there... the dog was from oxford apparently and couldn't possibly be left in the car