Ranga Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 We were at my elderly mother's place today gardening. She lives on a main road in a rural town. I was out the back of the house when I heard a motor bike horn blaring and then my OH yelling - very loudly! The bike was trying unsuccessfully to gain the attention of the truck. I ran to the front yard to see a table top truck veering off to the kerb with a dog hanging from the side by its chain The truck came to a stop and a young guy leapt out to grab the poor dog who was luckily still alive and well! He carried the dog over to us and I think he and the dog were both in shock. He thanked us profusely, and I told him to tie the dog shorter. He maintained the dog had been tied short but had broken the chain the poor dog had grazes to his rear pads but otherwise seemed okay. When they left, the dog was in the cab of the truck. It was lucky my OH has such a loud yell or else the poor dog may have ended up like the dog in National Lampoon's Vacation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Hate dogs in utes. Unless the dog is secured in a crate or something similar it's just too risky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 that could have been tragic. How lucky for the dog. I hope it's feet are OK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 So very lucky . ours are always tied short and securely ...bet that man learned a valuable lesson today . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bundyburger Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 (edited) Thats a lucky dog. Our kelpie broke his harness in OHs ute at 18 months old and jumped out, this was before i met OH. He broke his pelvis, and OH had only just started moving. He was one lucky dog that's for sure. I hate dogs in utes for this reason, unless they are tied incredibly short and on two tethers. . it took years for the poor soul to travel in cars of any kind without stressing. Edited August 23, 2015 by Bundyburger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Yep my Dad's dog smashed up her leg when she fell off the ute driving around the farm. Mine are only ever in built in or tied down crates on friends' utes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YippeeGirl Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Apparently, my grandparent's old neighbour hanged one of his dogs because whatever it was tied with was too long, and it fell out of the tray and from what they said, he drove along with it for some way before noticing (this was out on a country road so no one to warn him). I'm not sure the truth of that story, but since hearing it when I was younger, I've always been very anxious with watching dogs on the backs of utes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Apparently, my grandparent's old neighbour hanged one of his dogs because whatever it was tied with was too long, and it fell out of the tray and from what they said, he drove along with it for some way before noticing (this was out on a country road so no one to warn him). I'm not sure the truth of that story, but since hearing it when I was younger, I've always been very anxious with watching dogs on the backs of utes. Same thing happened to a friend of ours... only when he got to town the morning schoolkids all had to see the dead hanging dog as we waited for the school bus. Never been a fan of dogs on utes since seeing that... T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canisbellum Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 There are a couple of 3 legged dogs in town from falling off Ute's. Mine go in a covered cage bolted to the load bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbedWire Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 It is not only from the back of utes that dogs get hanged. I had a friend who left her dog tied up in the carport while she was at work. When she got home the dog had tried to jump the gate and had hung itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 One very lucky dog. So dangerous if not secured properly. You see some dogs not secured at all & going around corners they almost fall out. Understand with farm dogs riding in the back but on public roads I believe they should be in crates if they have to ride in the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph M Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I don't like it and I don't like seeing it. We live in a reasonably metro area and seeing dogs poorly secured going down freeways at 100k an hour leaves me cold. Also hearing dogs bark their asses off all the way along the road or whine with stress makes me angry too. May as well put my dog on the bloody roof racks. Secure them and if the dog doesn't like it, for gods sake don't do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlaznHotAussies Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 On the farm we have the dogs tied on the utes with a short chain so they can lie down or look around the corner but not jump out. Although if I manage to steal the dual cab I put the dog/s on the back seat The F-Truck (FIL's vehicle) has dog crates on the back which is also handy. In Perth we saw an excited Kelpie half hanging out of an open window of a Landcruiser - literally had it's chest out the window - I thought it was going to fall out we were too far back or I would've yelled at the half-witted owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverStar-Aura Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I think what a lot of ute drivers fail to realise is that even though the dog can only look over the edge, if it falls back/bum first, it'll still end up hanging over the edge of the ute. I don't understand the whole tie the dog on the back of the ute in suburban areas; there's no need. Farms fine because the dogs are on/off all the time to work the cattle/sheep etc but in the city ... Put the dog inside the cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redsonic Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I can't understand why people EVER think it is a good idea to restrain a dog on a ute via a collar and chain (no matter how short). Hanging risk aside, how safe would you feel if your seat belt arrangement was a loop around your neck? A firm harness with short tether, or crate or, better yet, ride in the cab. You see so many dogs standing on hot aluminium tray bodies, blinking out the dust in their eyes as the spilled feed gets blown around the back. We really need to rethink our "Aussie dog on back of ute" myth. Happy to make an exception for farm dogs on farm property - they are working and it is by far the most practical way to bring them with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I believe it has come to the time that it should made unlawful to carry any dog not in secure bolted down crate on the back of any vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranga Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 This occurred in a rural area ... It doesn't excuse the risk. Maybe they were travelling between farms? I don't know. The young owner of the dog was genuinely upset and I don't think this dog will be at risk again ... At least I hope not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbedWire Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I can't understand why people EVER think it is a good idea to restrain a dog on a ute via a collar and chain (no matter how short). Hanging risk aside, how safe would you feel if your seat belt arrangement was a loop around your neck? A firm harness with short tether, or crate or, better yet, ride in the cab. You see so many dogs standing on hot aluminium tray bodies, blinking out the dust in their eyes as the spilled feed gets blown around the back. We really need to rethink our "Aussie dog on back of ute" myth. Happy to make an exception for farm dogs on farm property - they are working and it is by far the most practical way to bring them with you. I like this post. Also what River Star Aura says. They fall off bum first and are then suspended by their necks. I agree. It's time to rethink. I have followed utes and seen dogs swaying from side to side as the ute turns or swerves. I feel very uncomfortable about it all. Re farm dogs: I assume they are not restrained at all so that they can jump on or off as needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I believe it has come to the time that it should made unlawful to carry any dog not in secure bolted down crate on the back of any vehicle. I agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaCC Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I would never ONLY tether a dog in a ute by even a firm fitting harness. Dogs can and will wiggle out of harnesses. I no longer have my ute, and am no longer on a property, but I kept the tie back as short as possible, and double backed it, to both a collar and harness. You need to be continually checking your tie backs as well, they weaken, especially chains. Replace them when needed. I agree that there is no need for people to be tethering dogs to utes in urban areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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