Animal Group Teaches Dogs How to Drive [VIDEO]

An animal welfare group in New Zealand has spent two months teaching three of its shelter dogs to drive.

The Auckland SPCA says it wants to show how intelligent dogs are to encourage more people to adopt them.

Three dogs of different breeds were chosen and given daily training exercises to familiarize them with the mechanics of driving.

After eight weeks of these drills, Porter, Monty and Ginny were put behind the wheel of a modified Mini Cooper and were able to put it in gear, accelerate and steer.

The three pooches have now graduated to driving on an off-road track with the help of an assistant inside the car.

Auckland SPCA chief Christine Kalin said that “at all times we have a remote capacity to stop the car should we need to."

Kalin described the three dogs as “very intelligent” and "highly adoptable." But she added, “ they aren't any more special than any of the other SPCA dogs.”

Porter, Monty and Ginny are working towards their big challenge: to drive solo next week on live television.