Dogs will have to be restrained on utes

Dogs on a ute would need to be restrained if the vehicle was on a public road under new rules.

Dogs will soon have to be restrained when travelling on the back of utes on public roads.

The move has come as part of a review of all animal welfare regulations over the past two years.

In a paper initially proposing the regulation the Ministry for Primary Industries said the owner of a vehicle, or the owner or person in charge of a dog transported on the open deck or trailer of a moving vehicle on public roads must ensure it is secured in a way that prevents it from falling or hanging off.

"This proposed rule reflects an existing minimum standard in the Dogs Code of Welfare 2010, which states that except for working dogs at work, dogs must not be carried on the open rear of a moving vehicle unless they are secured or enclosed in a crate. This rule also reflects NZTA guidelines on the transport of dogs on the deck of a vehicle."

There would be an exception for working farm dogs unsecured while working, eg helping move livestock along a public road, "to ensure a common and accepted practice is not unfairly restricted by this regulation".

Federated Farmers spokesman Miles Anderson, told Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB this morning that having dogs un-restrained was standard in sheep and beef circles.

Listen to the interview below:

He hoped common sense would be used when enforcing the rules.

Anderson said dogs didn't need to be secured on public roads, but the move had obviously been made to reduce the risk of injury to the animal.

Offenders could be fined up to $900 after rules come in from October, it has been reported.