More pet-friendly areas are opening up on B.C. Ferries vessels travelling the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen route.
Dogs must be on one-metre-long leashes and cats have to be in carriers to be allowed on upper outdoor decks on the Spirit of British Columbia and Spirit of Vancouver Island. There’s a limit of two pets per owner.
Additional outdoor pet areas are coming to the Coastal Celebration and Queen of New Westminster which also service that route, the company said in a statement.
B.C. Ferries began introducing outdoor upper-deck pet areas in the fall of 2022 on the Earls Cove and Saltery Bay route on the Sunshine Coast.
That was followed last year with outdoor spaces on the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay and Powell River-Comox routes.
This year, more pet space was made available on the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay-Langdale routes.
Lower-deck indoor pet areas will continue to be provided, and waste bags and water bowls will be made available, along with regular cleanup, B.C. Ferries said.
The ferry company also reminded drivers to turn off vehicle alarms, which frequently go off while vessels are enroute, to avoid disturbing pets in cars.
Pet guidelines are outlined on cards available at the chief steward’s desks on ferries.
B.C. Ferries said it’s embarking on a survey to collect feedback on the new outdoor pet areas.
