VIA INSTAGRAM

Mr. Phinn wants to ride the waves.

A three-year-old idea to let pets board harbour ferries is dog-paddling its way back to city hall.Councillor David Hendsbee is asking for a staff report on the feasibility of letting dogs ride Halifax Transit’s ferry service.“Residents have been discussing and requesting that pet owners be given permission to take their dogs on the Halifax Transit ferry service,” the motion reads. “HRM is a pet-friendly municipality and responsible pet owners may want to take their dogs with them.”Currently, only service dogs are permitted on Halifax Transit ferries.Opening harbour transit up to non-service pets was previously floated back in 2014 as part of the Downtown…I’m In vision-boarding that collected dozens of resident-suggested improvements for HRM living.City staff were still looking into the matter a year later, according to an update presented to the Community Planning and Economic Development standing committee.Hendsbee’s new motion asks staff to examine allowing leashed or muzzled dogs, and the possibility of HRM providing “a couple of pet cage kennels” to secure canines in transit.The councillor also wants mandated rules for dog owners to clean up after their pet, “should it happen to relieve itself” on deck.Regional Council will vote on the request Tuesday.