by Elysa Chen

A COUPLE is being dogged by angry comments from commuters. The reason :They took a dog on board a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train.

Netizen Jacky Chen posted a video on the Stomp website on Monday showing a young couple boarding a train with a dog in a cardboard box.

He called the couple's actions "really ridiculous".

The e-mail did not specify when the incident took place, or on which MRT line the couple was on.

Since the video and pictures were uploaded on the Ugly Commuters section of the news portal, the post has drawn 78 comments, with more than 11,000 page views.

Some called for the couple to be fined for their inconsiderate act.

A netizen, chuangfock, even called for SMRT to publicly shame the couple.

In a comment on the post, he wrote: "SMRT please paste their photo on all MRT station & inform all duty staff to look out for these (sic) inconsiderate couple."

Others flamed MRT staff for allowing the couple past the gantry.

One of them, LestatVK said: "Never mind the CCTVs...how about the security guards? Why didn't the guard check the couple with the suspicious large box? Today, a dog inside a box...tomorrow, maybe a body inside a box! LOL"

Chancp24 attributed the incident to lax enforcement standards. Some netizens highlighted the fact that there were no signs informing commuters not to take dogs into MRT stations.

Although they were in a minority, some, like Twillight88, even felt that owners should be allowed to bring pets onto public transport.

In her post, she asked: "If not those who do not drive, how?"

Regulations

Another netizen, xiangkia, also felt that as long as the pets "don't smell or poo or pee I feel tat its fine (sic)".

CrappyKong also noted that, at least, the couple had "made the effort to put the dog in a box to prevent it from pooing on the floor".

When contacted, an SMRT spokesman said that under the Rapid Transit Systems regulations, animals, including pets and livestock are not allowed in trains, or at any part of the train stations, except for guide dogs accompanying blind persons.

She added: "The public is encouraged to immediately approach station staff for assistance should they spot someone carrying animals onto trains."

Ms Tammy Tan, vice-president of corporate communications at SBS Transit, which runs the North-East Line, said: "Our station staff will stop and advise passengers when they see them bringing their pets into the stations.

"Over the last five years, we have had only a handful of such incidents and in all these cases, the passengers concerned have abided by the regulation when told of it."

An LTA spokesman said: "We seek public understanding as the issue is not only one of space constraints. Animals may cause discomfort to passengers.

"Passengers travelling on trains who breach this regulation are liable for a fine of up to $500."

Past incidents

WHEN: 30 Oct 2008
WHAT: STOMP ran a post about a man who had taken his dog onto a train on the East-West line during rush hour.
WHEN: 18 Feb 2003
WHAT: A stray dog slipped through the fare gates undetected and went to the train platform. There, it started barking and sprinting around wildly, and even went down to the MRT tracks. Even SMRT staff members and the police were unable to catch it. It was eventually caught by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), almost two hours after it was first spotted.

elysac@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The New Paper.