77 Replies to "Washington State Ferries unleashes new dog policy for a test run"

• Al King August 21, 2025 (4:34 pm)

  Is this something dog owners have been lobbying for? Or is the state simply raising the white flag to authorize what dog owners have been doing all along.  

  • Zach August 22, 2025 (9:31 pm)

    Dogs have been allowed on the ferry for as long as I can remember. Limited to the decks and walking straight to them. This is an extension of it and frankly I don’t see what the problem ever was about dogs on the ferry

  • Teri Miller August 22, 2025 (11:45 pm)

    Insurance provider probably changed

• Dad August 21, 2025 (4:36 pm)

  Cool news, glad dogs will have a new way to enjoy the trip.  I imagine most people would keep their challenging cases in the car.  

• Allergies? August 21, 2025 (5:37 pm)

  I wonder if they’ll adjust to make more spots for those with allergies. This potentially confines them to one space.

• Guy August 21, 2025 (5:42 pm)

  “Unleashes”…👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼…👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

  • WSB August 21, 2025 (5:50 pm)

    I briefly debated between that and “floating the new policy” …

    • West Marge August 24, 2025 (12:37 pm)

      More puns the better!

• Grouch August 21, 2025 (6:33 pm)

  Oh great.  More dogs.  Not everyone loves them.  Please keep yours under control and away from me.  

  • Nw mama August 22, 2025 (7:52 am)

    Agreed.  Away from me and my black pants 

  • Scott Leaver August 22, 2025 (1:57 pm)

    You can stay in your car 

    • K mac August 22, 2025 (7:52 pm)

      Not if you are a walk on. 

    • Resident August 23, 2025 (11:53 am)

      So can you and your dog.

  • Guy August 22, 2025 (4:40 pm)

    Never trust someone who doesn’t love dogs

  • Grouch 2 August 22, 2025 (4:42 pm)

    I too am tired of everyone’s pets. 

    • Dr Wu August 23, 2025 (3:02 pm)

      I’ll trade dogs on the ferry over screaming kids any day. 

  • Spork J jorklin August 22, 2025 (7:04 pm)

    Just keep the animal-haters in a kennel. 

    • Mac August 22, 2025 (7:54 pm)

      Some people have a fear of dogs. Especially if they’ve been bitten by a dog, and since a lot of people do not or will not control their animals it’s not unreasonable that they don’t want to be next to a dog. 

      • Zach August 22, 2025 (9:34 pm)

        It’s not the rest of the world’s responsibility to cater to your fears. 

        • Resident August 23, 2025 (11:55 am)

          I adore dog but they should not be in the passenger areas. And yes we do sometime cater to someone if there are no other options.

• flimflam August 21, 2025 (6:50 pm)

  Interested to see how this plays out – not all dog owners have been known for respecting rules and being responsible.

• Rats August 21, 2025 (7:01 pm)

  Not a fan of dogs increasingly being in every aspect of society in Seattle. Dog owners historically don’t heed the law in several circumstances. They don’t cooperate with Animal Control officers in the rare instances they try to uphold the law. One manager told me that SPD can’t show up for backup so dog owners can do whatever they want including walking away from Animal Control officers and refusing to provide identification for a citation. This isn’t working well for us incase one hasn’t noticed. Civility continues to slip away.

  • Zach August 22, 2025 (9:38 pm)

    If it’s really a problem then they’ll probably change it back and rightfully so. But all I’ve seen so far is conjecture and hand wringing about what could happen. For people that don’t like dogs, one incident has a more outsized impact on their perception than it should

    • Darcy August 23, 2025 (1:20 pm)

      I am a dog lover and have had many since I was a little girl. I am “elderly” now and wishing I could have a dog now but once you no longer have a yard, it is no longer desirable. But, I agree that if you cannot be a responsible dog owner you have no business having one, especially in public places with or without a leash. 

• Scarlett August 21, 2025 (7:15 pm)

  Great, now ferries will be floating dog kennels along with the social pressure to fawn over someone’s Fluffy and be labeled a grouch if you don’t.  

  • Tom Foster August 22, 2025 (5:47 pm)

    In my experience, those who don’t like animals are not very pleasant examples of humanity.

    • Ray August 22, 2025 (7:24 pm)

      Dogs are like kids, stay away from me

    • Mac August 22, 2025 (7:59 pm)

      And the common denominator in your experience is you. So maybe the reason people are unpleasant around you, is you?

  • Tom Foster August 22, 2025 (5:47 pm)

    In my experience, those who don’t like animals are not very pleasant examples of humanity.

  • Zach August 22, 2025 (9:40 pm)

    There is no social pressure to fawn over someone’s dog that you yourself are not applying. Nobody with a dog cares if you say nothing, you’re a stranger. Nobody expects to interact with strangers. 

    • Emma-Lou August 23, 2025 (7:54 am)

      People who like dogs might not like YOUR dog up in their business. I love animals. I still don’t want your dog jumping on me, getting fur on me, or shiting in my yard, or next to my park blanket. Stop labeling and generalizing others to try and demonize people for not wanting to be slobbered on. It’s true we  don’t have to cater to people’s fears just like individuals don’t have to cater to your dog even when it’s allowed in a public space. That goes both ways. Also, just because you haven’t seen something, doesn’t make it so.I don’t ride the ferry much, and I hope people are mostly respectful, but I do see owners letting their off leashed (illegal) dogs poop on the kids soccer field (not even real grass, mind you) and not picking it up, literally every single day as someone who lives by the Delridge Playfields. I had to fence in my yard (2000$) just to not have dog poop left in my yard multiple times a week, so the idea that people get mad at bad dog owners for no reason is totally absurd! Now with that said, I’m still aware some dog owners are great and I still love dogs! That doesn’t change that fact that some owners suck!! Stop acting like people who don’t like dogs are a problem. its not black and white like that and frankly, It’s really not that hard to understand. Labeling everyone who brings this up as a “dog hater” is not only a total falsity, but it shows us that bad dog owner attitude that’s unnecessary and a self centered approach to others thoughts and feelings. It contributes to the idea that dog owners don’t care what anyone else’s thinks. Which is also bad dog owners being crappy to good dog owners! Stop reiterating that selfishness to people. Now, as far as being made to feel like people have to cater to your dog society, well, people are allowed their opinions, but you’re on here trolling all of their comments! Like, you won’t even leave them to their opinions on a blog post!! 

• Rats August 21, 2025 (7:22 pm)

  Seattle has “gone to the dogs”. Totally appropriate use of the phrase. The test run is just the latest example.

  • Lhorna August 22, 2025 (8:20 pm)

    This is a great move!

• anonyme August 21, 2025 (7:34 pm)

  Yeah, that’ll work.  Because dog owners ALWAYS follow the rules, right?

• Mellow Kitty August 21, 2025 (7:35 pm)

  Well. This could get interesting. 

• Alki resident August 21, 2025 (7:55 pm)

  Yay looking forward to seeing all of the dogs!

• k August 21, 2025 (8:13 pm)

  If they are trying to align with partner agencies (mostly King County Metro), they should also allow rabbits and bearded dragons riding on shoulders, as well as cats on leashes, laps, or shoulders.

  • Alki resident August 21, 2025 (11:40 pm)

    I’ve seen cats and bearded dragons on ferries. They didn’t do anything but sit there on the owners. 

  • bill August 22, 2025 (8:48 pm)

    My normally unflappable cat cannot handle the noise on the car deck when underway, so he stays in the car.

• Blbl August 21, 2025 (10:00 pm)

  What could go wrong? Are they hiring new staff to break up the fights and clean up the poop too? Cause we know the owners don’t. 

• Vashon August 21, 2025 (10:16 pm)

  As someone who would walk on the ferry with her dog to visit parents/friends on the weekends this is a welcome addition. To save $$ we would walk on. We always had to stand on the car deck in crossing the sound and it becomes quite cold even in summer. Thank you wsf for making it easier for those foot travelers /commuters with a dog. Hopefully responsible dog owners make it a success.

• Sunrise Heights August 21, 2025 (10:34 pm)

  As a dog owner who often gets annoyed by other dog owners, I both welcome this and understand the concerns. I wonder why they are not simply designating an area of the cabin where it’s okay to have a well-behaved, under-control dog. The all or nothing approach doesn’t make sense to me and seems doomed to failure. I put the onus on responsible dog owners to hold the others accountable. If you’re on a ferry and see someone letting their dog wander everywhere on a retractable leash, ask them to rein it in so that they don’t ruin it for everyone. I would support the policy only allowing dogs on traditional leashes no longer than 6 feet (yes, my dog plays, sniffs, and romps plenty, but in shared spaces, he walks next to me). It always baffles me that other countries can have permissible policies with reasonable limits while we still seem stuck thinking we can only have absolute prohibition or absolute mayhem. 

  • John August 23, 2025 (9:12 pm)

    Ah, the voice of reason. If only you were in the majority…

• Ly August 22, 2025 (12:04 am)

  No one even follows or enforce the no dog policy on beaches here and now they think people are going to follow the rules on the ferry? 

  • SunriseHeights August 22, 2025 (6:50 am)

    I follow them and know a lot of other dog owners who do as well. I see those who violate those rules just like you, but saying “no one” does because you see some who don’t just isn’t accurate and doesn’t help the conversation. You don’t see the people not walking their dogs on the beach because, well, they’re not there. We can turn these conversations into acrimonious finger-pointing or we can focus on problem-solving. The problem isn’t that all dog owners are jerks. It’s that some people are jerks some of the time and some of them own dogs. 

    • Mister_Fisher August 22, 2025 (9:31 am)

      Sunrise,
      As one who is annoyed seeing dogs on the beaches, this is a much appreciated, rational response. Thank you. 

    • John August 23, 2025 (9:16 pm)

      Sunrise Heights for president! If only…

• Team Dogs. August 22, 2025 (1:57 am)

  If kids are allowed on ferries, then dogs should be, too. Let’s passive aggressively suffer each other’s intolerances and stay true to Seattle tradition! 

  • Darcy August 23, 2025 (1:52 pm)

    I have noticed that some dog owners think that THEIR dog is exempt from the public rules and laws that are there for ALL dog owners , no matter how well-trained or adorable YOU think your dog is. So, shorten the extendable leash and hold on to the other end of it and CONTROL your dog. And, by the way, I love dogs and have had many, so stop the judgmental attitude towards non dog owners – you only make it difficult for the responsible dog owners.

• Ridiculous August 22, 2025 (7:00 am)

  WSDOT will be sued for flea and tick borne illnesses contracted from this ridiculous policy.  No pets on seats, in bathrooms, or eating areas…ever.

  • Eric1 August 22, 2025 (9:39 am)

    I don’t know why you are so worried about the cleanliness of cats and dogs. Most owners don’t like fleas and ticks either and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t treat their pets as a member of the family. Their pets get bathed and groomed regularly and I can’t think of the last time I truly saw a filthy dog in Seattle. That being said, I take mass transit daily and I don’t always use seats even in empty trains.  I look before I sit and I can assure you, I am not looking for dog fur or wondering about fleas and ticks.  There are many more unsavory people than dirty dogs on mass transit and I worry way more about human than zoonotic diseases. I don’t own dogs but my baseline is that I would 100% take in a stray dog found on mass transit before I would take in a stray human. 

  • Firefighter August 22, 2025 (12:45 pm)

    And I suppose you’d say the same about the homeless, who also habituate in the outdoor world of fleas, ticks, mosquitos etc? Sniff your own perfume before you wear it my dear. 

• Mike August 22, 2025 (10:23 am)

  If we could apply the same laws and rules to feral children, we’d have a better world.  Please, use a leash or keep them in the car on the ferry.

• AK August 22, 2025 (10:24 am)

  Love this! As my dog is my child & family!

• AS August 22, 2025 (11:44 am)

  As a dog owner, I really hope all dog owners who take advantage of this treat it as the privilege it is. It ruins things for everyone, responsible dog owners included, when irresponsible owners let their dogs disrupt other people’s lives.

• LBD August 22, 2025 (11:46 am)

  I’m a dog owner who strongly dislikes “He’s friendly, he just wants to say hi!” owners. I’m hoping those who bring their dogs into the passenger cabin have them sitting or lying quietly at their feet or by their side. That’s why it works so well in Europe. And there’s a time and a place for extending a retractable leash and that doesn’t include the passenger cabin. I hope this works out, and if people are considerate it should. Oh, and there ought to be a No Dogs Allowed section so that people who don’t want to be around dogs, whether it’s allergies, fears, religious beliefs, whatever, can count on having space that works for them. They are also paying passengers.

• Latchkey August 22, 2025 (12:08 pm)

  What happens when a dog goes poop or pee on the boat? It’s not necessarily sanitary at that point, even when picked up by the owner

  • Scott Leaver August 22, 2025 (2:01 pm)

    Read the rules!  They aren’t allowed in the galley.  If you have a problem with cleanliness bring a mop and clean it yourself. 

    • Al King August 22, 2025 (4:03 pm)

      Clean it yourself? You sound like the typical entitled dog owner who is just certain rules (and common courtesy) don’t apply to them.

  • InFavorOfDogs August 22, 2025 (6:51 pm)

    As someone who previously worked in a grocery store, I assure you that anywhere open to the general public has the equipment to clean up urine and feces, because humans sometimes leave “presents,” too. :( (I appreciate the option of having a well-behaved dog inside, but don’t intend on having mine in the cabin.)

  • Ray August 22, 2025 (7:27 pm)

    Charge money for dogs to ride the ferry, same as bicycles

• H.maureen August 22, 2025 (3:20 pm)

  As someone who lives in friday harbor and commutes to the mainland often, the only problem I’ve ever seen is that if you are a local who frequently takes the ferry, all dog owners know the rules and keep them inside the car. It’s the tourist that assume they can bring their dog upstairs inside the ferry. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve witnessed a family of 5 pile out of their car, grab their dog and head upstairs, and 2 min later coming back down to put fiddo back in the car. It will be interesting to see if this plan of theirs (WSF) stays, and if it does, it’s just another reason why I stay inside my car the whole trip

• O’lady August 22, 2025 (3:21 pm)

  Observed on a ferry: Dog being walked on deck; it peed on someone’s daypack while dog’s human was mesmerized by phone screen. Oblivious! 

  • InFavorOfDogs August 22, 2025 (7:08 pm)

    People who pay attention to their phones instead of their pets and children are really letting everyone down. If you can cool down enough to be polite, feel free to ask the person something like, “Does your dog have a UTI? They just peed on a backpack, which is weird, right?” Maybe they’ll be appropriately mortified and pay more attention in the future; maybe they’ll tell you they were just texting their brother about Mom’s funeral arrangements so they were understandably distracted. It’s better to let it pass if you’re too frustrated, but if you can be calm/polite/friendly, your reminder can nudge them back on track in a way that emphasizes social connection. It’s like how dog owners seeing other dog owners not pick up their pet’s waste will ask, “Oh, are you out of bags? Here, I’ve got one!”

    • Good dog owner August 23, 2025 (3:01 pm)

      This is the best comment here. I do this too, I always buy bags in bulk and carry extra rolls, for this exact reason!

• Tammy August 22, 2025 (5:18 pm)

  Good to know. I have taken my dog on the ferries. We stay away from people. He is a very good boy. Id rather ride with dogs than some of the loud kids running around without supervision or the people who rudely have loud conversations. 

• Sunrise Heights August 22, 2025 (6:27 pm)

  Look, some parents of kids are neglectful and entitled. Some dog owners are the same. Not all. I am a loving dog owner and a parent of two daughters who have travelled all forms of transit all over the world, with clear guidance about how to enjoy these spaces while not infringing finding the enjoyment of others. There are as many good examples of kids and dogs as there are bad (probably more), but they aren’t what you remember because it wasn’t noteworthy. We can all be caricatures on South Park when we comment in these places, or can consider the often unnoticed good along with the bad and bring a little curiosity rather than judgment to what we don’t get, and then maybe we can have more reasoned dialogue. It’s up to us. 

• Linda Givler August 22, 2025 (7:04 pm)

  I think this is the right thing to do.  However, as a dog owner, I agree that dogs should have a designated area.  I don’t want my dog intimidating people afraid of dogs.  It wouldn’t be hard to have dog and no dog areas on the ferries.Oh, I also dislike obnoxious, out of control children just as I dislike the same in dogs.

• T-bang August 22, 2025 (7:48 pm)

  my 3 pits just love to ride the ferries. can’t wait.  Thank you WA state ferry!

• Will Lumiko August 22, 2025 (8:16 pm)

  At least dogs aren’t the geniuses setting their car alarms on the ferry.  Canines also don’t turn up, too loud, political shows on their speakers, with the vehicle’s windows open, making cars nearby hear it (such was the case yesterday evening on the way to Anacortes).  Dogs don’t walk around the ferry landing eating double scoop ice cream cones (sorry, you’re already overweight, you shouldn’t be eating that).  Also dogs don’t cry or talk loudly in the ferry as some humans do.  They are quiet the majority of the time, sort of “model passengers.”  If only more humans followed their examples.

• T August 22, 2025 (8:59 pm)

  This relaxed attitude toward people bringing pets aboard buses, into restaurants, stores, public pools, etc is out of control. Getting worse by the day, people are so entitled about now that they don’t leash their dogs anymore. Disaster waiting to happen. Damned arrogant Idiots

• Sarah Atwood August 22, 2025 (11:29 pm)

  I was appointed by the Mayor of Seattle on dog issues. Transportation is key. Maybe it’s a leash requirement of 5 five feet is all it takes. Best thoughts all around

• David August 23, 2025 (7:46 am)

  Read through all these comments, pretty even split.

  Have a designated area, floor just like in the parks.Simple.

• Joe August 23, 2025 (9:31 am)

  More dogs, less screaming, sticky-handed bratty kids on the ferries, please! Airplanes are next I hope!

• Blornkdog August 23, 2025 (10:55 am)

  I wonder how the WSF legal team signed off on this. I’m guessing they realized that many dog owners don’t follow the current rules and ferry staff shouldn’t have to deal with those awful people. So why not see if letting everyone do it changes anything?

• Dog owner August 23, 2025 (12:28 pm)

  I have many pets, including several dogs.  I disagree with this change.  Dogs in the car area, great.  Not in passenger areas.  They are pets, not people.  

• PugMom August 23, 2025 (5:02 pm)

  Heck yea, I’m so pumped for this. Me, my husband and my two pugs can’t wait to ride the ferries inside when it’s cold to get where we want/need to go. If you want, come say hello to them; and if you don’t want to say hello, we won’t bother you. They will use the restroom beforehand and won’t ruin your lives, as it seems that everyone thinks they will 🙄 

Sorry, comment time is over.