Safety first - DPI helps best mates in the back of the ute

THE image of a working dog in the back of a ute is a great Aussie icon, but too many owners are not doing the right thing by man's best friend.

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries has released a brochure, 'Dogs in Utes', urging owners to restrain their animals in moving vehicles.

Not only does it make sense for safety reasons, it is also illegal to have an unrestrained dog in the back of a ute -- an offence that carries a fine of up to $22,500 and a year in jail.

The Animal Welfare League's Damien Fitzgerald pictured here with Cherry the ute dog. (Cherry is avaliable for adoption - click here for her profile)

The Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin, said thousands of dogs were injured or killed each year because they had not been properly restrained.

Animal Welfare League spokeswoman Amanda Freeman said the organisation had seen the devastating results of irresponsible owners not keeping their dogs secure.

Just a few months ago, a dog was brought into the AWL that had been run over several times because the owner had not properly secured a rope to its collar.

"The man had not even noticed. It took a good Samaritan to catch up to him and give him his animal," she said. "The dog was in a very bad way and died on the table of the vet's surgery.

"We would see at least 15 of these injuries a year."

Ms Freeman said dogs suffered vehicle-related injuries ranging from minor to fatal including cases of animals being choked during sudden stops, suffering dehydration, sunburn and burned skin and footpads from the hot steel of a ute's tray.

The department's brochure includes such tips as using a fully-enclosed dog travel pen, equipping the ute's tray with a rubber lining and towel covering to reduce heat, installing breathable roofing to reduce sunburn and create a cool space, and, if in a full enclosed cage, not tying the dog up to prevent accidental choking.

Reference: Orginal article

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