Pets

On Aug. 20, 2025, we launched a six-month trial of an updated pet policy. Based on customer feedback and in line with other transit agencies, dogs on leashes are now allowed in the passenger cabins of our ferries:

• Big dogs must stay on the floor, not on seats. Small dogs should be on their owner's lap or in a carrier.
• Owners must control their pets and clean up after them.
• Crews may direct owners to move pets to a motor vehicle or outside deck if needed for safety or bad behavior.
• All other pets must stay in a crate or carrier, except service animals.

This is a trial, and there will be a review in February 2026. During this time, we encourage feedback from customers to help decide if the change should become permanent.

Existing pet policy

We recognize that it is impractical to require walk-on passengers and their leashed pets to remain on the auto deck for the duration of a voyage. In order to provide shelter to these patrons, walk-on passengers with leashed pets are allowed to board vessels and remain in exterior passenger areas, including shelter decks, promenade decks and/or sun decks.

Passengers with pets are allowed to board from inside the passenger terminal areas where overhead loading is in place:

• Bainbridge Island
• Bremerton
• Edmonds
• Kingston
• Seattle

At all other terminals, passengers board on the car deck and may gain access to exterior passenger spaces of the vessel via the interior cabin. We ask that customers do not linger in the interior spaces and use the most direct route when moving to or from the exterior areas. Walk-on passengers with pets who choose to remain on the auto deck must stay with the animal for the duration of the sailing and ensure it is properly restrained. Pets in vehicles may remain in the vehicle for the duration of the crossing, or may be taken to an exterior passenger area.

Service animals

Service animals are allowed to accompany people with disabilities in all public areas of our terminals and vessels as required by state and federal law.

Owners must keep their service animal in control, and the animal must be housebroken.

Employees are authorized to ask:

• If the animal is a service animal.
• If the service animal is required because of a disability.
• What task the animal is trained to perform.

If you have any questions about service animals please contact the WSF ADA Accessibility Coordinator at 206-515-3437 or wsdotada@wsdot.wa.gov.

Livestock

All livestock are required to travel in an appropriate enclosure at all times.

For more information contact us at 206-464-6400 or online.