The debate about the presence of dogs on the Seville Metro has returned to the forefront after a campaign launched by a resident of Mairena del Aljarafe, tired of not being able to travel with your pet on public transport. The Andalusian capital remains an exception on the Spanish map, where most major cities already allow travel with animals under certain conditions.
While much of social media is in favor of a regulated reopening, the subway concessionaire and the Andalusian Regional Government are studying, with with great caution and without specific deadlinesA possible relaxation of the rule is being considered. Currently, the discussion only addresses small dogs in carriers and during limited time slots, a proposal that many users consider clearly insufficient.
A citizen at the forefront of the protest
Anjana Martínez, translator of English, French and Catalan, born in Cantabria and residing in Mairena del AljarafeShe is the one who has given voice to a complaint shared by thousands of dog owners in the province of Seville. Accustomed to using the Barcelona metro with her pet, she encountered a very different reality when she moved to the Seville metropolitan area.
The user explains that she lives very close to the station of KnightsIt's one of the two metro stops nearby, and for her, the subway would be the most logical way to get to neighborhoods like Triana, where some of her in-laws live. However, as soon as her dog Bruno comes into play, the options dwindle: either a taxi, a private car, or finding alternative routes that are usually slower and less comfortable.
Martínez asserts that the difference with Barcelona is abysmal. There, he recounts, he could traveling with your dog while following clear rulesMandatory muzzles, rush hour restrictions, and designated areas on trains for those traveling with animals. Her experience was positive, without any significant problems, which is why she was surprised by the complete ban in Seville.
Aware that not everyone feels comfortable sharing a train car with a dog—due to fear, allergies, or simple aversion—she argues that the key lies in regulate accessnot to completely prevent it. It proposes solutions such as allowing dogs in carriers, carrying them if they are small, or providing specific carriages for passengers with pets, as is already done in other Spanish and European cities.
Faced with this situation, he decided to launch a petition on the Change.org platform and begin raising awareness about the issue on social media and in the press. Their goal: to have a review of regulations they consider outdated and which, in their opinion, leave behind a huge number of families who live with dogs.
The current regulations of the Seville Metro
The key point of the conflict lies in the Regulations Governing the Seville Metro Servicewhich sets out the conditions of use of the facilities and trains, including the transport of animals. Article 40.b is very clear: it prohibits traveling with animals of any type and size, with a single exception.
Only authorized access guide dogsAssistance or companion dogs for people with disabilities are permitted, provided they have the corresponding accreditation, as well as dogs assigned to security services. All other pets, regardless of size or behavior, are not allowed on the Seville metro.
This regulation clashes with the reality of the province. According to the Central Registry of Companion Animals of the Andalusian Regional Government (RAIA), in Seville there are over 434.000 dogs registeredMany of the people who live with them depend on public transport to go to work, visit family or attend medical appointments, so the ban significantly affects their daily lives.
Martínez and other users argue that, in practice, this regulation pushes the person with the dog towards the private vehicle, with the consequent increase in traffic, emissions and parking problems, especially in areas such as the center of Seville or very dense neighborhoods like Triana.
Added to all this is the regulatory context of the Animal Welfare LawThis has reignited the debate about integrating pets into urban life. Although the state law does not directly mandate allowing dogs on all forms of transportation, it has intensified demands for adaptation from pet owners.
The response from Metro de Sevilla and the role of the Junta
Public pressure and media coverage have forced the government to speak out. Seville Metro concession companyIn a statement, the company admitted that it is considering a possible reopening, although for now it is only a very limited scenario.
According to the company, it is considering allowing small dogs in carriers during certain time slots. The initiative comes from the Public Works Agency and is currently under study, with the aim of verifying whether the measure would be compatible with the proper management of passenger flow and the safety of the service.
Neither the maximum weight of the animals, nor the specific schedules, nor other possible requirements have yet been specified. For many users, including the campaign's promoter herself, this approach falls short. They believe that if Seville truly wants to be on par with other capital cities, it's necessary to go beyond simply providing pet carriers and to opt for a broader model of coexistence.
In statements to various media outlets, Martínez described the concessionaire's proposal as "a first step," but insisted that it is not enough. insufficient for real needs of people who travel with dogs. Remember that the vast majority of major European capitals allow pets on the metro without any problem, and that Seville “cannot be left behind.”
From their point of view, the Andalusian Regional Government and the operating company could take as a reference models already implemented in other Spanish networks, where access rules and restricted hours have proven to be effective without generating significant conflicts between users.
User experience and its impact on mobility
Beyond individual complaints, the campaign has shown that the current ban affects many user profilesThere are elderly people who depend on the subway to attend medical appointments or see family members, workers who need to travel daily with their dog, and families who do not have a car and are directly limited in their movements.
Anjana Martínez explains that, in her case, the inability to take Bruno on the metro forces her to use the car for journeys that could be made in just a few minutes. She mentions traffic jams, increased pollution, and an additional expense that could be avoided if the public transportation system were improved. integrate pets in an orderly manner.
It's also important to remember that the issue goes beyond convenience. For many people, especially those who live alone, a dog is an essential companion in their daily lives. Prevent him from traveling on the subway It limits common activities such as visiting relatives in another neighborhood, going to the vet without a car, or enjoying more distant green areas.
Among those supporting the initiative is Pablo Muñoz, journalist and head of the "Pipper on Tour" project, which focuses on traveling with pets. After traveling thousands of kilometers with his dog using various modes of transport, Muñoz affirms that the experience in cities that allow dogs on the subway it is very positive.
She explains that in other places dogs only travel in certain carriages or areas of trains, which makes it easier for people with allergies or fears of animals to coexist. She emphasizes that in most European capitals this debate is “well over” and that both passengers with dogs and the rest of the passengers travel peacefully, without any significant incidents.
What is happening in other Spanish cities?
The contrast with other metro networks in Spain is one of the most frequently cited arguments by those calling for changes in Seville. In cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga or GranadaThe coexistence of dogs and human travelers is now part of everyday normality.
The case of Metro de Madrid It is often cited as an example of a balance between access and control. There, dogs can travel every day of the week, but not during peak hours. rush hours Peak hours: 7:30 to 9:30, 14:00 to 16:00 and 18:00 to 20:00. These restrictions are lifted in July, August, weekends and holidays, when their presence is allowed during all service hours.
Madrid regulations require that dogs be accompanied muzzle and short leashThey must be no more than half a meter long and be located in the last car of each train. Only one dog per person is allowed, they must have a microchip—required by law—, they cannot occupy seats, and they are prohibited from using the escalators to prevent accidents.
En GranadaThe Andalusian metro also allows pets, with very clear limits: dogs must wear a muzzle and be on a short leash, and cannot occupy seats or use escalators. They are not allowed during peak hours—7:30 to 9:30, 14:00 to 16:00, and 18:00 to 20:00—but are welcome the rest of the day. During July, August, weekends, and holidays, they can travel at any time.
Other cities, like BilbaoThey are in a dialogue process similar to the one now opening in Seville, with citizen groups and experts in traveling with pets collaborating with the metro management company to outline regulations that allow dogs to enter without compromising the comfort or safety of other users.
The experience gained with these systems has served to debunk the idea that allowing dogs increases conflicts or reduces the number of passengers. In fact, activists like Pablo Muñoz cite data and examples in which the Opening up to pets has not had a negative impact in demand, and has even contributed to improving the image of public transport as an inclusive option.
The European context: Seville at the back of the queue
The comparison is not limited to the national level. At the European level, most major capital cities have long since integrated the dogs allowed on the subway within its rules of use, always with conditions designed to guarantee coexistence among all travelers.
Cities like Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Lisbon, Paris, Prague, Rome or Sofia They allow pets on their subway systems. Each one applies specific rules—use of a leash, muzzle in some cases, tickets for animals, reserved areas or carriages—but the general principle is that a dog can accompany its owner on urban journeys.
Proponents of change in Seville point out that, according to various estimates, around 90% of European capitals Dogs are allowed on the metro in one way or another. For them, Seville's continued stance on this is particularly jarring given the city's strong tourist appeal and the importance of public transport for getting around between the historic center, the neighborhoods, and the metropolitan area.
Furthermore, they emphasize that many Sevillians have experienced this normality firsthand in other European cities. Traveling on the subway with dogs in Paris, Barcelona, or Madrid is now seen as routine, without becoming a source of conflict or constant complaints among users.
In this context, the aspiration of those who support the initiative is that Seville joins that list and cease to be a rare bird on the map of European capitals. The shared feeling is that the debate, rather than being novel, is overdue, and that there are sufficient precedents to design its own regulations adapted to the local reality.
With all these factors in mind, the case of dogs on the Seville Metro has become a symbol of the extent to which public transport is adapting—or not—to new ways of living with animals. The citizen campaign, the number of registered dogs, the example of other Spanish and European cities, and the tentative openness shown by the concessionaire suggest that current regulations could change in the future, although for now there are no firm dates or details. What does seem clear is that the debate is no longer limited to an individual anecdote: for many families, being able to take their dog on the metro is seen as a real need and a logical step towards more inclusive mobility.
