And you thought your commute was bad. If you've long suspected that your dog was qualified for more than simply fetching the paper and rolling over on command, then here's your proof: in an effort to raise awareness about the plight of shelter dogs, the Auckland SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) taught three of them — Porter (seen above), Monty, and Ginny — to drive. Want to see them do it?
From the SPCA:
"Dogs this smart deserve a home. Every year, the SPCA needs to find homes for thousands of dogs just like Porter — dogs who have been abused, abandoned, or just forgotten. Our dogs may be a motley bunch, but they're all smart and they're all lovable. So please don't forget about them. Adopt them."
It's a good reminder for animal lovers everywhere: when you rescue a dog, not only are you saving his life, but vastly improving yours with the sheer joy of pet parenthood. And you may even get a new chauffeur in the bargain.
(Image and video: Meet Porter, The World's First Driving Dog via YouTube)
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Good luck getting to work if your chauffer spots a squirrel!
but can he parallel park...
just popping in to post my usual WHY IS THIS ON AT?! rant. don't mind me.
darling_aesthete - just for fun!
that's so cute!
Pi-Hysterical
this dog drives better than some people i know. lol
It's on AT because if it's ok to have posts about children in the home it's very ok to have posts about dogs in the home, or about dogs who should/could be in the home. It's a post about adding to your family, and family members live in the home.
But..this is a post about dogs in the car.
Not that I mind the post.
I prefer my dogs just lounging around the house. I'm a "Nervous Nellie" and I prefer to do the driving!! Cute dogs though . . . sorry. I only rescue/adopt cats.
It's about shelter dogs in need of a home. This dog is smart enough to drive a car, the point being that all dogs have potential and deserve a loving home.
Maybe it's just me, but I don't understand why it's strange to see a post about (potential) pets on a home design site. I enjoy seeing this sort of thing more than nursery tours. I know that's not true for most people, but most people who live wih an animal know that home design has to be compatible with that particular lifestyle.
Lovely post and lovely dogs. Kudos to Auckland's SPCA for the creative initiative - I'm sure it will bring more awareness to the plight of abandoned pets in NZ and all over the world.
This story promoting awareness for shelter dogs. It's good karma.....besides, AT has a category for pets, just as it does for children.
It's on here because anyone with a modicum of style shares his/her home with a dog (or cat), that's why!
I saw this on the BBC a few weeks ago, & as a born-again clicker trainer I LOVE it. Forwarded it to everyone I know. Pushes the boundary of the possible out even further.
As to its relevance to AT--fun is good. There have also been a number of posts about animals & decorating, with a number of posters on the threads advocating solving the given problem with dominance/force based training. There is ALWAYS another way for those who want to pursue it. And it's WAY more fun, for all parties involved.
Highly reccommend Karen Pryor's Reaching the Animal Mind for theory & history of operant conditioning, & there are also many good books on how to do it.
As anyone who's read this far has guessed, clicker training is my passion.
Meh ow says Toonces, the Driving Cat. (Google it).
Amazing and adorable. The dog behind the wheel looks more intelligent than a lot of people I know.
If my dog learned to drive, he'd drive himself to a grocery store and never leave!
Well said!
I'd enjoy off topic stuff more if it wasn't just links trawled from the web that already did the rounds on facebook and twitter several months ago :p
"It's a good reminder for animal lovers everywhere: when you rescue a dog, not only are you saving his life, but vastly improving yours with the sheer joy of pet parenthood."
In total agreement. Could not have said it better myself.
cool driver