Uber Australia Will Finally Allow You To Bring Your Pet Along For The Ride

Loads of people over the years will have been stuck between a rock and a hard place when they need a ride but have their pet with them.

It doesn't matter what the reason is that you're in that predicament, it usually ends in you having to walk or get a mate to pick you up because you probably won't be able to take public transport or use a ride sharing app.

But Uber is helping these people out in a big way.

anthony hopkins! foto! (Creative Commons)

The ride sharing service is launching Uber Pets in Sydney and Brisbane as a trial to see if it's popular (how couldn't it be).

Service animals have already been greenlit for rides however if your Baxter or Mittens provides no service but love and attention then they'll now be able to come too.

Trips will cost $6-7 on top of your regular fee but you can't really put a price on riding with your pet, can you?

Drivers will have the option of declining the ride based on the presence of the pet.

Adam Tinworth (Creative Commons)

Uber says to access this system, you have to open the app, enter your pickup and dropoff location, under 'Choose a ride', select 'Uber Pet', tap 'Choose Uber Pet' to confirm, and when your driver arrives, you can bring your pet inside the vehicle.

The service said on its website: "You may bring one small animal such as a dog or a cat. Please note, there is no breed or size restriction and any additional pets you bring are within the individual driver partner's discretion.

"In addition, if your pet leaves waste, excessive hair, or damages the vehicle, you could be charged a cleaning fee."

PA

But it's not just restricted to cats and dogs, as long as it comfortably fits in the car without making too much hassle then it should be fine.

Uber says if you want to avoid being fined then you should 'have your pet restrained with a leash, harness, or placed in a crate/carrier', 'bring a blanket/towel to cover the seat and reduce the risk of damage or mess', 'ask your driver if they have a preference for where your pet should sit' and of course 'do not leave your pet unattended'.

There's no word on how long the trial will last in the two capital cities or when it could get rolled out to the rest of the country but this is a massive step forward.

Topics: News, Animals, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie