Swastika Mukherjee slams Uber Pet taxi for charging Rs 487 for 5km ride. Company responds

Actor Swastika Mukherjee asked Uber to explain the steep difference in prices between a normal ride and one using Uber Pet. (Image credit: @swastikamukherjee13/Instagram, Unsplash)

Actor and pet lover Swastika Mukherjee on Thursday slammed Uber and its pet taxi service after the company charged a Delhi-based animal NGO owner Rs 487 for a 5km ride. Rakshita Singh, who runs the Dular Amaanat Foundation, was first refused a ride by an Uber driver for carrying a few puppies in a basket even though it was a medical emergency.

"Where is the compassion?" Mukherjee asked Uber on Instagram as she reshared Singh's post. The incident happened on Wednesday when one of the puppies Singh was fostering fell ill and had to be taken to a vet. "This evening, I booked an Uber to take these puppies to the vet, as one of them had been feeling quite unwell. When the driver arrived, I carefully placed their cosy baskets in the back seat and provided him with the OTP for the ride," she wrote.

When the driver got to know that Singh was carrying puppies in the basket, he allegedly told her to step out of the cab immediately as the vehicle was "intended solely for human passengers and not for animals."

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"I was taken aback as the puppies were securely confined in their baskets and I had always thought Uber was accommodating to pet owners in situations like this," Singh said, adding that the driver then insisted she call for a special pet taxi. When Singh tried to persuade him because it was a medical emergency she was allegedly told that it was not his problem. "This kind of behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and warrants serious attention," she said.

Moreover, when the actor tried to book a pet taxi through Uber, she was charged Rs 487 for a 5km ride while a traditional cab charged her only Rs 150.

Mixed reactions on social media

The incident divided social media. While several pet owners claimed that they too had faced similar problems with Uber, another section of users pointed out that since pet-friendly cabs are available, pet owners should avail of the service instead.

"I think your demand is quite irrational. Why can't you take your own vehicle? People may have issues with pets and mass commute modes like Uber should be strict with no pet rule! Since there are provisions to book pet-friendly cabs, you should avail that irrespective of the price or book local cabs!" said one user.

"His car, his wish. Right to reject service," added another.

Uber's response

In a statement to Moneycontrol, an Uber spokesperson said, "We introduced Uber Pet to meet the growing demand from pet owners who want an easy way to travel using Uber with their furry companions. It ensures that there is a safe and convenient ride available when you are traveling with your pets while providing additional earning opportunities for drivers."

The company also addressed the difference in fares between regular rides and that of Uber Pet.

"The surcharge for Uber Pet covers the costs associated with vehicle cleaning and maintenance to ensure that the car is ready and comfortable for subsequent riders," the spokesperson said. "At Uber, we are committed to providing a smooth, reliable experience for both pet owners and drivers."

Introduced last year, Uber Pet is a pet-friendly ride option for riders looking to be matched with driver-partners who are comfortable transporting pets in their vehicles. The service allows customers to bring either a dog or a cat with them on Uber rides. The service is available only in select cities including Bengaluru.