Dogs on the Back of a Bakkie: The Real Risks

What actually happens

Dogs go over the side. They jump at a dog on the pavement, they lose footing on a corner, they are thrown in an emergency stop, or they leap out at a robot.

The injuries are severe: degloving, multiple fractures, spinal trauma, head injury. Many are not survivable, and those that are cost tens of thousands to repair.

A dog tethered by a collar on a load bin can be hanged over the side. A short leash is not a safety measure — it is a specific and well-known way for a dog to die.

The other injuries people do not expect

Wind at highway speed dries and damages eyes, drives grit into them, and causes ear trauma. Conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers from open-air travel are routine in practice.

A steel load bin in the South African sun reaches temperatures that burn paw pads within seconds. Check with your hand before your dog gets on.

Exhaust fumes accumulate at load bin level in traffic more than people realise.

Doing it more safely

• A properly secured crate bolted to the load bin, with shade and ventilation, is by far the safest option
• If a crate is impossible, use a harness — never a collar — with two short cross-tethers so the dog cannot reach any edge
• A canopy transforms the risk profile for heat, sun, wind and ejection
• Rubber matting or a blanket over hot steel
• Never leave a dog on a load bin in a parked vehicle in the sun

The legal angle

Conveying an animal in a way that causes unnecessary suffering is an offence under the Animals Protection Act, and municipal bylaws in several areas address unsecured animals on vehicles.

An unsecured animal is also a road safety issue. A dog thrown into traffic causes accidents involving people.

Inside the cab

Inside is safer, but a loose dog in a cab becomes a projectile in a collision and can interfere with the driver.

A crash-tested harness clipped to a seatbelt, or a secured crate, is the right answer. A dog on a lap in the driver’s seat is neither safe nor legal to any reasonable reading.