The six-month window where all pets were allowed un-kenneled on Saskatoon city buses, that not many people knew about, has come to an end. 

According to Transport Manager Mike Mollenbeck, bus drivers were advised to stopped asking for proof of service animal certification back in December. This was not made public. 

Now, as part of a proposed new bylaw, Administration was hoping to set that policy in stone, however several members of Saskatoon’s transportation committee were not in favour. Councilor Bev Dubois was one of them. 

“I know students in high school who are allergic to cats, and if they came across someone with a cat on their lap, they wouldn’t be able to take that bus to go to school. 

Mayor Cynthia Block, instead, suggested that animals must either be a service animal or in a kennel to ride the bus. That was approved unanimously.  

Although the animal portion of the bylaw was shot down, the remaining recommendations in the bylaw were approved, such as giving officers authority to remove riders from buses for bad behavior, the ability to issue bus bans, allowing fines for certain behaviors such as placing feet on seats or distracting a driver, and enabling drivers to remove riders who refuse to pay.  

The bylaw will go before city council before it is enacted.