By 3 News online staff
The world’s top driving dogs have again been linked with the world’s top driving television show.
Comments made by James May, co-host of the BBC’s long-running motoring show Top Gear, have re-ignited speculation that New Zealand dogs trained by the SPCA to drive cars could continue their high profile television careers.
May has let slip that Top Gear will be filming a segment in New Zealand alongside a trip to Australia in March.
"I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but we are going to film a little bit but it's going to be in New Zealand," May told AAP.
The SPCA announced last December that the Top Gear team had been in touch following the charity’s driving dogs campaign. Speaking today, SPCA Auckland chief executive Chris Kalin could not confirm that any further plans had been made.
“Top Gear have indicated interest to SPCA Auckland in filming the driving dogs, but I also have to say that there’s been no firm arrangement,” she says.
But she admits the SPCA would be happy to have their clever ambassadors on show again.
“For us the focus has always been profiling how smart and how wonderful SPCA dogs are, so providing the story was consistent with our message and with our focus – yes, we would be interested.”
In an apparent coincidence, May suggested in a 2007 column for the British newspaper The Telegraph that it was “time to put man’s best friend back to work”.
“I've never met a dog that (who?) isn't a car enthusiast. Dogs bark at cars, chase cars, urinate on cars, like being in cars and like sticking their heads out of car windows. It's only natural that dogs should want to learn to drive cars,” he wrote.
The SPCA’s publicity campaign saw three dogs trained to drive cars un-aided down a racetrack, in an attempt to change public perceptions of the intelligence of rescued dogs.
Three rescued dogs from the SPCA – Porter, a beardie cross, Monty, a giant schnauzer cross, and Ginny, a beardie whippet – were given weeks of driver training. Porter and Monty then each got the chance to take sole charge of a car on live television. Porter even took Campbell Live reporter Tristram Clayton for a spin.
SEE THE VIDEO
- SPCA teaches dogs to drive
- Driving dogs test out their skills on the track
- Driving dogs Porter and Monty show off their skills
The dogs learned their new skills with the help of New Zealand animal trainer Mark Vette, and their antics garnered international attention. The footage of the dogs at the wheel became the BBC’s most viewed and most shared story, and the campaign even made it onto David Letterman’s famous ‘Top 10’ segment in the United States.
Ms Kalin says that the dogs’ international appeal was evident as attempts were made to find them new lifelong homes.
“We had people from the States wanting to take Monty into their home, so yes we’ve had no shortage of interest in those three dogs.
“There’s been interest worldwide, and it’s fair to say too that shelters and SPCAs throughout the world have congratulated us on a wonderful job of profiling SPCA dogs.”
If you wanted one of the original driving trio to join your family, you may be out of luck – Ms Kalin says adoption procedures for the three dogs are in their final stages, and more information about their homes for life will be announced soon. Although she says there are many more dogs available for adoption who are just as capable.
“If you’re looking for a dog, think about the SPCA and all of the other dogs out there who in many ways were in the same plight as Monty, Ginny and Porter before they gained world celebrity status.”
But if the driving dogs were to be invited on the world’s most popular car show, would they need to go back to driving school first?
“The dogs have retained their skills,” says Ms Kalin, “they can still drive.”
3 News
source: newshub archive
