Not Quite So Pet-Friendly: Swastika Mukherjee calls out Uber

For pet parents, finding a reliable taxi or cab service remains a challenging task. On Thursday, actress Swastika Mukherjee brought attention to this issue and called out Uber after her experience with the mammoth ride-booking service left plenty to be desired. 

Our story starts with Chitrangada Singh. Chitraganda runs the Dulaar Amanat Foundation, an NGO in Delhi. Having chartered Uber’s newly launched ‘Uber Pet’, she called out uber for a ‘lack of compassion’ towards pet animals. Uber quoted her a price of INR 150 For a regular five-kilometre ride to her mentioned destination, while the same journey in an ‘Uber Pet’ shot up to Rs 487 or nearly thrice the amount. 

Chitrangada booked an Uber Go take six rescued puppies to a pet clinic from Chhawla, New Delhi to Dwarka, among which one pup was in critical condition. When the cab arrived, she entered with her puppies. Once the OTP was entered and the driver enquired about the contents of her basket though, he immediately refused the ride, insisting that she cancel the ride and book a ‘pet taxi’ instead.

“I pleaded with him, explaining that it was a medical emergency, and we needed help immediately. He said that if he had known we were taking dogs to the hospital, he wouldn’t have accepted the ride and insisted we remove the pups from the cab,” Chitrangada said. 

With little else in the way of options, she tried to book a cab with the ‘Uber Pet’ services but was amazed by the steep pricing. She demanded an explanation after this experience, particularly the size and layout of pet-friendly taxis. Swastika Mukherjee, who closely works with Chitrangada's NGO, later shared her post on Instagram, sparking a discussion online.

According to Uber’s official policy as per their website, service animals are allowed at all times, while non-service animals are permitted at the driver’s discretion. Under the Uber Pet services, pet parents can carry their pets with them, but only one pet is permitted at a time. 

According to an Uber spokesperson, “We introduced ‘Uber Pet’ to meet the growing demand from pet owners who want an easy way to travel using Uber with their furry companions. It ensures that there is a safe and convenient ride available when you are travelling with your pets while providing additional earning opportunities for drivers”, he said. “The surcharge for ‘Uber Pet’ covers the costs associated with vehicle cleaning and maintenance to ensure that the car is ready and comfortable for subsequent riders,” he added.

Transporting pets locally is a challenge throughout the country, so such an experience is hardly the first of its kind. Pet parents across India routinely face issues with transportation, accommodations, and public perceptions. "Travelling with pets is a nightmare. Cabs, hotels, and even cafes often don’t allow them.

You need to keep searching and enquiring before your needs and theirs (pets) align. Limited carriers like Air India permit pet travel, but securing train bookings is another hassle. We've stopped taking our pets out - not by choice, but due to a lack of options" said Ayush Das, a 20-year-old engineering student with five dogs.