Taking your pets around the island seems to be a highly requested feature — so much so that ride-hailing app Uber has created a dedicated feature just to ferry your furry friends. Not to be confused with friends who are furries.
UberPET just launched today, to the delight of users who like taking their animal companions on outings, with “thousands” of drivers applying for the pet-friendly service, according to The Straits Times. Before this, ride-hailing passengers would have to call up their drivers first to ask if pets are allowed on board — a challenge, considering some drivers are uncomfortable with letting animals into their private vehicles.
All common household pets are welcome to ride along, including dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, hamsters, birds, and fishes. Exotic pets like spiders and reptiles weren’t specified, however, and are presumably prohibited. Those with guide dogs are allowed on all Uber services and don’t require uberPET bookings.
“With uberPET, riders can be assured that their driver is comfortable to have pets on the ride,” the company wrote in a press release.
“All uberX driver-partners on uberPET have opted into this programme and understand that there will be an animal on board.”
But uberPET won’t be an animal transportation service, of course. Animals will have to be accompanied by a human companion and will have to be kept on a leash, or at least in a pet carrier. It’ll also mean an extra $2 booking fee on top of the usual fare — a fee that’ll be waived until the end of the year, said Uber.
Then there’s the matter of animal… incidents. Riders will be charged cleaning fees if the car needs to be cleaned (pee, poop, puke, etc) but minor things like fur shedding won’t be counted.
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