When I went to Maine to visit a friend, we took ferries to go island hopping. On intial embarkation, a dog came aboard, sans owner. I thought it was a joke, but the captain said the dog boards the same time everyday and gets off at the second island. He usually returns between 3 and 5 (ferries are on the hour), and heads home. I asked what he does on the island and the captain shrugged and said “none of my business”

The Moscow mutts are not the first animals to use public transport. In 2006 a Jack Russell in Dunnington, North Yorks, began taking the bus to his local pub in search of sausages. And two years ago, passengers in Wolverhampton were stunned when a cat called Macavity started catching the 331 bus to a fish and chip shop.