Kannur: After the lockdown rules were relaxed, quite a number of pet animals are travelling in trains to reunite with their owners. Many of them are travelling in the first class coupe of Rajadhani Express with AC ticket. Different breeds of dogs are on long trips to meet their owners who were separated during the lockdown.
When the lockdown was suddenly imposed, many could not take their pets with them. As there were no dog boxes in the special trains, they were separated. So, when lockdown was relaxed all were in a hurry to bring back the loved ones. Many dogs are carried in the AC coupe of Rajadhani Express using parcel ticket.
The journey will be the responsibility of the persons who take the dog with them. The Railways has given special instruction that the pets should not cause inconvenience to other passengers. Once coupe ticket is allotted, a ticket should be bought for the dog from the respective railway parcel office.
Ticket rate is decided based on the weight of the dog. A vaccination certificate attested by veterinary doctor is mandatory. There is no dog box in the LHB coaches and in express trains, the dog box is close to the guard room. A passenger also should accompany the dog in train. Very few dog boxes are available in trains these days.
Kasaragod Madikkai native Vineesh works in America and had entrusted a centre to look after his dogs in Bengaluru. Now the pets belonging to breeds like Shih Tzu, Mastiff and German Shepherd were brought back home. A Cheruvathoor native brought his Labrador from Punjab in a truck. Pets are being brought back from Ooty also.
