This New Doggie Bus Is Like Uber for Pets—But Way Cuter

If you happen to spot a bright yellow bus full of dogs and cats cruising down the road, don’t pinch yourself — you’re not dreaming. You’ve just been lucky enough to encounter the Doggie Bus, a new rideshare service for pets and their busy parents created by Smithfield, Rhode Island resident Leslie DiManna. 

After retiring from teaching, DiManna decided to devote her time to her other passion: animals. A long time pet parent herself, she had plenty of experience caring for dogs and cats — and more. “Ready for the list? I have three dogs, two cats, two goats, two bearded dragons, two geckos, one canary, one snake, two sugar gliders and a bunny,” she told The Valley Breeze.

DiManna got the idea for the Doggie Bus a few months ago after seeing a growing need for pet transportation. “This service addresses a number of different populations. We’ve got the busy parents with the children, and the kids need to be somewhere, the parents are at work, you might have a late meeting. You might be a single mom and not be able to get that dog to that appointment on time. And even the elderly, the disabled ... Maybe someone doesn’t have a car or your car broke down,” DiManna told NBC 10. 

She didn’t hesitate to put her idea into action. Within a month, she had the business registered, the van purchased and decorated, and a website built. “Here we are,” told NBC 10. “It moved very quickly.”

The van is painted bright yellow and the windows are decorated with pictures of her dogs and her family’s dogs. It’s definitely a vehicle that’s hard to miss on the roads — and one that DiManna says is sparking joy everywhere she goes.

“Everybody loves the doggie bus, thinks it’s a great idea. In traffic I’ll see people turn and stare, at red lights I see little kids pointing to the doggie bus and telling their parents,” said DiManna. “It’s been a fantastic reaction. People are very interested in it and really want to know more about it.”

The way the Doggie Bus works is pretty simple. Visiting the QR code — which is printed on the bus itself — or website leads to a scheduling form. Potential clients fill out their details, including address, location, and pet information.  

“I approve the ride and I show up at your door,” said DiManna. “This is purely transportation. I do not put people on my bus. This is simply for the pets. I do take cats as well, as long as they’re in a carrier or safe, or any other animal.”

The rides start at $20 for a one-way trip that’s less than 10 miles. But DiManna also offers trips that go up to 60 miles, as well as specific emergency transportation options. DiManna transports animals all over Rhode Island and is also willing to go into Massachusetts if need be. Pet parents book her services for a variety of reasons, whether it’s to take their pup to the groomer’s or just to give them a lift home from visiting grandma’s house.

The van can fit up to 12 pets at a time, and all the animals are secured with harnesses — there are no cages or crates. She customizes the experience for each dog’s need; small dogs might get a booster seat, while some large dogs might want a bed. DiManna said that she wants the experience to be as comfortable as possible, without compromising animal safety.

“When it comes to dogs, the energy a dog brings to us is very healing and very calming and we have a responsibility to take care of them,” DiManna told NBC 10. “We need to remember we are their whole life. They’re a part of ours for an amount of time but to the dog, we are their life.”