Dogs on the Back of Bakkies: Safety and the Law

Dogs on the back of bakkies is an everyday South African sight and a regular cause of horrific injuries. The physics are not forgiving: an unrestrained dog on a load bin in a 60km/h emergency stop leaves the vehicle.

The legal position

National road traffic regulations require that goods and animals carried on a vehicle be secured so they cannot fall off or endanger anyone, and animal protection legislation makes it an offence to convey an animal in a way that causes unnecessary suffering. In practice, an unsecured dog on a load bin can attract a fine, and a cruelty charge if it is injured.

The worst thing you can do

A rope or leash tied to a collar. If the dog goes over the side it hangs, and dogs die this way regularly. If the lead is long enough to prevent hanging, it is long enough for the dog to be dragged. Never tie a dog by the neck on a moving vehicle.

What actually works

• A secured crate bolted or strapped to the load bin, with shade, ventilation and a non-slip base. This is the safest option by a wide margin.
• A canopy with the dog loose inside, provided there is ventilation and the tailgate is secure. Watch the heat — a closed canopy in summer becomes an oven.
• A cross-tether harness system — two short tethers to a body harness, anchored to opposite sides, short enough that the dog cannot reach any edge. Second best, and only with a harness, never a collar.

The heat problem

A black-painted or bare metal load bin in a South African summer reaches temperatures that burn paw pads within seconds. If you cannot hold your hand flat on it for five seconds, the dog cannot stand on it. Put down a rubber mat, wooden board or a piece of carpet, and provide shade.

The other risks

Wind-borne grit causes eye injuries and ear damage. Exhaust fumes and dust affect dogs at that height. Dogs jump out at robots when they see another dog. And a dog on an open bin is easy to steal at a traffic light, which is a genuine and common problem in South African cities.

The simple answer

Put the dog in the cab if there is room, in a harness clipped to a seatbelt. It is safer, cooler, quieter and legal, and the dog would rather be with you anyway.