Handing your dog or cat to a stranger is a big ask, so it makes sense to be picky. I run Pets Go Taxi in Los Angeles, and I’ve thought a lot about what I would want to see if I were the one booking a ride for my own dogs. Most of it comes down to one question: does this person genuinely love animals? Here is how I would check, and the red flags I would watch for.
Start With Reviews, and Be Fair About Them
Any reasonable person starts with Yelp, Google, and whatever comments other customers have left. Reviews tell you whether people were happy and whether the driver showed up on time. A newer company will not have many yet, and mine is a good example. Pets Go Taxi is still new, so I don’t have a long list of reviews to point to. A short list is not a bad sign on its own, but it means you should lean harder on the other checks below, and a driver who is honest about being new is better than one who hides it.
Ask Whether the Driver Owns Dogs
This is the question I would ask first. A person who has lived with dogs knows how they act, what stress looks like, and how to stay calm around them. If you have a big dog, a reactive dog, or a pit bull, ask whether the driver has personally handled one. Someone who has a pit bull at home will answer that in a way a person with no experience can’t. You can learn more from a two-minute conversation about the driver’s own pets than from a polished website.
Look at the Vehicle and How the Pet Rides
Ask how your pet will travel. Some drivers use a crate, and others let the dog ride in the back of the vehicle. I prefer to give calm dogs room in the back rather than a cage, because I don’t want them to feel closed in. That said, safety comes first. A dog that is nervous or might bite should be restrained or crated, or the driver should decline the ride, instead of driving with an unrestrained animal behind them. Ask what the driver does with your specific pet and why, and be wary of any answer that sounds like one setup is right for every animal.
Watch How They Drive
A good pet driver brakes gently and avoids sudden stops, because there’s an animal in the vehicle. I drive that way on every ride, and I only stop hard in a real emergency. You can’t see this before you book, but you can ask about it, and you can notice how a driver talks about the trip. Anyone who brags about speed is a problem.
Tell Them Everything About Your Pet
A safe ride depends on the driver knowing the animal. I can’t tell from a text message whether a dog is reactive, so what the owner shares is my only warning. If a dog is reactive, I won’t touch it or crowd it, and I give it as much space as I can. Tell the driver about anxiety, bite history, medications, and carsickness. A driver who asks you these questions is a good sign. One who doesn’t ask is not.
A Note for Cat Owners
Cats need their own approach. A cat should always travel in a secure carrier that can’t slide or tip, and it should never be let out inside the vehicle. Ask the driver how they secure a carrier and what they do about temperature and noise. I haven’t built my business around cat rides, so I would rather tell you to ask these questions than pretend to be an expert on it.
Red Flags
The biggest red flag is a driver who is only in it for the money. You have to like pets and like dogs, and the animals can tell when you don’t. A person who doesn’t like animals will treat your pet as cargo, and that will show in how they talk about the job. Other warning signs are vague answers about experience, no agreement or paperwork, and pressure to pay right away without any explanation of what you’re getting.
Trust Your Instincts About the Person
Beyond the checklist, pay attention to how the person comes across. Do they carry themselves with respect? Do they listen and answer questions directly? Does your gut say they are a good person? If something feels off, move on. There are other drivers, and you shouldn’t ignore a bad feeling about someone who will be alone with your pet.
What Helps a Nervous First-Timer
If you’re nervous about handing your pet to a stranger, ask how the driver will keep in touch. I send a text or call during the trip so the owner knows the pet is in good hands. Most people are fine with two updates, but if you want four or five, I can do that. A driver who is willing to keep you in the loop is one who takes the responsibility seriously.
The One Thing to Remember
If you remember only one thing from this guide, make it this: choose a driver who loves animals. The vehicle, the price, and the website all matter, but they all follow from whether the person behind the wheel cares about your pet.
Ready to Book?
If you want to talk about your pet and see whether Pets Go Taxi is a good fit, contact me here with the pickup location, destination, and details about your pet, and I’ll get back to you with a quote.