Cooperation with UAnimals aims to make the rules for transporting animals more flexible and friendly

In response to public outrage over the incident with the National Guard member and his service Labrador, Ermie, who spent about three hours in the vestibule of an Intercity train, Ukrzaliznytsia has announced its intention to update the rules for the transportation of animals. This decision was made after working with UAnimals, an animal and environmental rescue organization in Ukraine, which will develop new, more inclusive rules.

According to UAnimals representatives, posted on their Instagram page, the goal of the update is to adapt the existing rules to modern realities and make them more acceptable for passengers traveling with their animals.

"Together we will update some outdated points of the train travel rules to make them more inclusive for people with animals. We will organize a social campaign to urge passengers without animals to treat passengers with animals more humanely," the organization said.

The incident that became the catalyst for these changes occurred the day before, when the story of National Guard soldier Valeriy and his service Labrador Ermie, who were forced to spend more than 3 hours in the vestibule of a train from Kyiv to Chernihiv, went viral. They could not stay in the carriage, as the rules prohibit the transportation of animals taller than 45 centimeters at the withers. At the same time, the National Guard member decided not to break the rules and voluntarily stayed in the vestibule, as he could not wait for a compartment car that would allow the transportation of his dog.

The National Guard's statement, published allegedly on behalf of Labrador Ermie, reads: "Although according to the rules, large dogs like me are not allowed to travel in general Intercity wagons, where there are many people, an exception was made for me - and to make all other passengers comfortable, I traveled in the vestibule. After all, it was important for the dog handler and me to get home as soon as possible. And I would hardly have wanted to ride those two hours in a muzzle, even if I had been allowed to."