Dogs As Chauffeurs, Really?

Hmmm, it seems to me that our four legged friends whom we have come to know, love, and absolutely cannot live without might be wearing a different hat soon – instead of being a living, breathing alarm or security guard around your home’s perimeters, how about having Fido drive you around town? Yes sir, the previous two months have been especially interesting for animal trainer Mark Vette as he spent that time teaching dogs how to drive, according to New Zealand TV station Campbell Live.

These lessons are not meant for a shock or novelty factor, but rather, is part of a campaign by the New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), in an effort to clear up “common misconceptions” when it comes to rescuing dogs. SPCA Auckland CEO Christine Kalin said, “Sometimes people think because they’re getting an animal that’s been abandoned, that somehow it’s a second-class animal.Driving a car actively demonstrates to potential rescue dog adopters that you can teach an old dog new tricks.”

Now how about that? All of the new drivers are not pedigrees from a cozy pet shop, but shelter dogs, although they would most probably be unable to know where you want to go. Is there an emergency brake somewhere to step on just in case the pooch decides to put the pedal to the metal?

Edwin Kee
Categories: Transportation
Tags: dog