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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Emotional support animal or not, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus riders did not tolerate a pet rat as a fellow passenger Thursday evening.
At around 5 p.m. a Transit Police officer reported to a bus at Jackson Square for a disturbance call. Upon arrival, that officer was greeted by a 56-year-old man that had a pet rat sitting on his shoulder, police say.
Other bus passengers were not thrilled with the rat's presence and exited the vehicle, saying they felt "unsafe." Officials say the officer explained the MBTA's policy on animals boarding the T, and informed the man and his rat companion they would need to be escorted off the bus.
According to those regulations, the man in question broke a few rules when it comes to having a pet ride on the T. Per the MBTA's Ride Rules and Regulations, animals are not permitted to be off leash, out of carriers, or taking up seats while on public transportation. Furthermore, non-service animals (rats cannot be service animals in the first place, and it was not explicitly stated if the rat was an emotional support animal) are not allowed to ride on the T during peak travels hours: 7 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.
Finally, MBTA rules state smaller animals like cats and rabbits (or in this case, rats), should be kept in pet carriers on the owner's lap if possible. In other words, small pets should not be out and about, and not resting on their owner's shoulder.
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At the news of the recent rat escapade, many seasoned T riders recounted "Penelope," the snake that became separated from her owner on the Red Line over a decade ago. That story had a happy ending, as Penelope was recovered and reunited with her owner.
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