Porter, one of the SPCA's driving dogs. Photo Youtube
The sky is the limit - literally - for the SPCA's driving
dogs.
Monty, Porter and Ginny have already turned heads around the
world after video of them driving a modified Mini went viral
on the internet. Now the man who spearheaded the training to
put the dogs behind the wheel is considering their next
challenge.
Animals on Q director Mark Vette said one of the ideas he was
"tossing around" was teaching the dogs to fly.
Vette, who previously held a pilot's licence, has a brother
who is a Cathay Pacific captain and their father was former
Air New Zealand captain and Erebus crash investigator Gordon
Vette. He said it was "conceivable" the dogs could fly a
plane - but it was just "a fun idea" for now.
The main focus was still the driving dogs campaign, aimed at
encouraging people to adopt SPCA dogs, Vette said.
Those in the aviation industry reckon the idea won't fly.
Nelson Aviation College chief executive Giles Witney said no
dog would be enrolled at his flight school - even his own
giant schnauzer, the same breed as Monty.
"My dog is quite intelligent too, but I wouldn't let him up
in the air.
From a safety perspective, it's a no-no."
Meanwhile, homes are still being decided on for the three
dogs, but they are likely to remain in the Auckland area.
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