I was a London taxi driver off and on for over thirty years, finally giving up on the day of the first Covid lockdown. I was often asked about the passengers I picked up. I had a sprinkling of celebrities, but most passengers were regular people. Some weren’t people at all. Some were real animals. We were obliged to accommodate assistance dogs, and we sometimes got asked to transport pampered pets, and take dogs to and from the park with their owners. Never mind the legislation, I go the extra mile to promote equal opportunities for animals. I’m suspicious of such people who don’t like animals. I’ve never had a problem with animals in the cab, but I’ve had plenty of problems with people.
I welcome our furry friends in all areas of life. For me, a comfortable pub is one where you have to step over a sleeping dog to get to the bar, and where the irritable pub cat dares you to try to sit on his chair. I like the way that in France you can take your pet out to dinner as part of the family. I’ve yet to see a cat or rabbit sat at the dinner table, but I’m always delighted to see a dog’s head emerge from a lady’s handbag. Those Frenchies are way ahead.
I always stopped to pick up dogs. Their owners are usually grateful as they obviously get refusals. A dog invariably settles straight down to enjoy the ride in quiet contemplation – as our human customers should do. I never carried a dog loud and obnoxious through drink, changed its mind where it wanted to go, criticised my route, picked the rubber off the armrest, or left pistachio shells all over the carpet.
As pets, dogs are fine, but I prefer cats. Dogs are too conformist. Cats are free-thinking individuals, and I can relate to that. Tell a dog what to do, and it’ll do it without thinking. A cat shows a healthy disrespect for authority and will ignore you if it doesn’t like what’s being suggested, or stare you down in a challenging way. I identify with their Fur Q attitude. Badly behaved pets are the most entertaining. I like a pet I can have a fight with. It’s not all violence though: most cats have an affectionate side. They’re just discerning and cautious. They need to get to know you first.
Many people believe dogs are more intelligent than cats, but that’s only because cats are uncooperative. They’re difficult to test because they get bored and walk off. The cat is the only domestic pet that has total freedom to come and go as it pleases. Other pets must resent that. If you don’t feed him right, your faithful house-tiger will simply move next door. You know you are a good person if your pet doesn’t run away. The cat thinks of itself as the master and you as the pet. That’s fine: let them think they’re the boss and they’re happy.
My strangest cab job involving an animal happened in 2014 after responding to an account call in Soho. I waited a fair time until a woman got in with a dog. She sent me to Barking Bettys in Battersea (“Grooming for the Urban Dog”). She took the woofer to Betty’s, then returned to say it would take an hour. The woman sat in the cab while doggie was pampered, and the clock ticked over 20p every few seconds.
The pampering took longer than anticipated and the lady decided she needed the loo. She found a café to use, though I thought afterwards that she could have used a litter tray at Barking Betty’s.
In the end I waited 2 ¾ hours, but we got back to Soho quickly and everyone was happy. The trip cost the account holder £164 (2014 prices, plus automatic account tip). The dog looked clean and happy, clearly oblivious to the expense involved. I’m not sure who was the most barking that day.
