Uber Pet launched in Croatia

Pet transport services are set to become more popular in Croatia with news that Uber is launching Uber Pet.

After Bolt launched its special category “Bolt Pet” in June this year, pet owners in Zagreb now have access to Uber PET, a new service that allows users to travel with their pets.

This new Uber service was officially introduced at the recent “Festival of All Breeds of Dogs powered by Zoo City,” held in Zagreb, Women in Adria reported.

It is estimated that Croatia is home to more than 350,000 registered dogs and 437,000 cats, with over a third of households owning at least one pet.

As a result, following Bolt, Uber is also expecting high demand for this service.

For an additional fee of €2.50 per regular ride booked via the Uber app, users can take their pets wherever they need to go. This is particularly appealing to dog owners, though it can also benefit those with other small pets.

Pet-friendly equipment

“We are extremely proud to introduce the Uber Pet service in Zagreb, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to innovation and responding to the needs of our users.

The introduction of this service not only simplifies travel arrangements for pet owners but also marks an important step in enhancing the quality of transport services in Croatia.

We believe that Uber Pet will raise industry standards and provide an even better customer experience, creating new opportunities for both passengers and our driver partners,” a representative from Uber stated.

Uber vehicles designated for this service are equipped with special protective covers and seat belts for pets. To make the journey more comfortable for both drivers and other passengers, users are encouraged to bring their own seat covers for extra protection.

It’s worth noting that Bolt’s pet service is also available in Split, Zadar, Dubrovnik, Pula, Rijeka, and Osijek. Uber is expected to extend this service to these cities as well.

Rules of conduct

Taxi service TAXI 1717 is also happy to transport both you and your pet wherever you need to go. It’s important to know that most taxi drivers (around 80%) accept pets, while all drivers will accommodate guide dogs, Women in Adria say. 

When booking a ride, you just need to mention that you’re travelling with a pet and specify its size (small, medium, or large).

Until now, pet owners have also been able to use Eko Taxi and some private companies for pet transport, with one of the most popular being Zoo Mobil, which has been operating for about 30 years.

Naturally, all of these services have rules of conduct. Pets can only be transported when accompanied by an adult owner or an authorised adult responsible for any potential damage the pet might cause to the vehicle (e.g. relieving itself).

Drivers may refuse the ride

As a pet owner, you are fully responsible for your pet during the ride. While dogs don’t need to be in transport crates, it’s recommended that cats and other typical pets—ferrets, invertebrates, reptiles, birds, and small mammals—are transported in handheld carriers (cages, baskets, etc.).

It’s important to note that within the Bolt Pet category, and likely other services, dangerous dogs, as defined by specific regulations, are not permitted. For more information, you can refer to the link on the Regulations for Dangerous Dogs.

In certain cases, drivers of any taxi service may refuse a ride with a pet for the following reasons: if the pet is on the list of dangerous dogs, is unclean or untidy, is not accompanied by an adult owner or authorised person, or if the pet is aggressive and poses a safety risk to the driver.