A group of passengers in an Uber were left stunned when the driver passed them a dog to comfort during the ride.
The Uber driver picked up the passengers and quickly asked them if they were scared of dogs, Thomas “Blysk” Kopankiewicz explained in his August 23 video posted to the TikTok account @heythomask. A bit confused, they all said no, and soon enough, the driver picked up his dog, Sheila, and handed her over to them.
“We were all just excited to be honest,” Kopankiewicz told Newsweek via TikTok. “We were luckily all pet lovers and no allergies.”
The driver told the passengers that Sheila is “scared of the highway,” which is why he wanted them to keep her company. Kopankiewicz said the small dog instantly made herself at home, plopping right into his friend’s lap. The video shows the passengers laughing at their stroke of luck in getting a dog on their ride.
While they all thought it was adorable, and Sheila proved to be “so sweet,” Kopankiewicz was convinced it was a ploy.
“I think she was just plotting to get some cuddles while her owner drives,” he said.
Whether intentional or not, Kopankiewicz and friends all agreed, the Uber earned a five-star rating. And earning their five stars, they comforted Sheila with endless pets and snuggles.
Uber offers pet-friendly rides, and service animals are permitted to accompany riders at all times without extra charge. Passengers can request an Uber Pet trip, which allows them to bring one animal, such as a dog or cat, with no breed or size restrictions, according to the Uber website.
Because the drivers who use the Uber app are independent contractors, they are allowed to travel with pets or service animals in their vehicle, the company website stated. They are expected to operate vehicles safely, and if a passenger feels an animal caused a safety concern, they can contact Uber.
Newsweek reached out to Uber via email for additional comment.
Viewer Reactions
As of Tuesday, the TikTok video reached over 1.2 million views, 175,300 likes and 137 comments. Jealousy crept in as viewers wished this had happened to them.
“This is how I’d get kidnapped,” wrote one viewer.
Another added: “Oh, he’s getting a 100 percent tip from me.”
A third person said: “That’s it, they need an option to request an Uber with a dog. I need a dog friend every ride now lol.”
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