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Now your pet can have its very own chauffeur.
Patrick’s Pet Care is launching its “Pet Force One” van today that will take pets to places like the vet, groomer, and airport.
The animal care company in Columbia Heights provides dog walking, pet sitting, and daycare services. The expansion into pet transportation “will fill a much needed service in the District, allowing pet owners to benefit from high-quality services, regardless of their location or ability to travel,” says the company’s owner Patrick Flynn, in a release.
Ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft allow service animals to accompany passengers.
However, multiple residents in the region have faced challenges and discrimination while trying to get rides with service dogs—one woman even filed a lawsuit against Uber over her experiences.
Passengers who use the ride-hailing services with non-service pets have to ask the driver if their animals can come along and are encouraged to bring a crate or blanket to keep cars clean. But even if the driver says yes, the pet still can’t ride alone.
Patrick’s new offering doesn’t require owners to join the pets for the ride. They say their lift has pet-friendly climate control, private transport spaces for animals, filtered water dispensers, and other features. They plan to service 15 to 20 dogs a day.
The van services all of D.C. and some nearby suburbs for $25-$45 depending on the location. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., and they offer a one-hour service window for pick up and drop off.