How do I Travel With Pets on a Greyhound?

If you plan to travel from one city to another on a bus, Greyhound (greyhound.com) is a logical option. The bus line visits nearly 4,000 destinations across North America and has approximately 13,000 departures across the continent each day. Whether you're taking Greyhound in Canada or the U.S., the company's regulations regarding pets are the same. Unless your animal meets very strict criteria, you cannot travel with it on the bus.

Greyhound is strict about the animals it allows on its buses. With the exception of certified service dogs, animals of any species are not permitted on any Greyhound bus, either in the cabin with the passengers or below the bus in the storage compartments.

As is the case with other methods of transportation, including airplane, train and city bus, Greyhound allows travelers to ride their buses when accompanied by a service dog. Service dogs can provide a variety of tasks, including leading a visually impaired owner, helping a hearing-impaired owner navigate busy areas and reminding someone with mental health issues to take his medication.

If you enjoy the company of your animal and it improves your mood when it's in your presence, the animal is not a service animal. To be considered a service dog, the owner has to suffer from a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the dog has to perform a specific task, such as leading you across a busy intersection if you're visually impaired. Finally, the animal must be well trained and not negatively affect the environment around it.

Emotional support dogs, which help people who suffer from emotional conditions such as fear and anxiety, are permitted on many airlines in the U.S. The Americans with Disabilities Act does not consider emotional support dogs to be service dogs, thus these animals are not permitted on Greyhound buses.