Dogs Driving Down Under

Yes, dogs driving is now a thing. New Zealand's SPCA has been training dogs to--wait for it--drive. Yes, drive. Rescues Monty, Ginny and Porter have been taking driving lessons for the past eight weeks with the help of animal trainer Mark Vette and his team from Animals on Q. The dogs hope to do a live drive on TV next week in Mini Cooper cars after training in custom canine cars.

The reason for this incredibly off-beat attempt? The SPCA wants to positively portray shelter pet adoption for potential pet owners and combat the misconception of abandoned pets being inferior to those adopted from a breeder or pet store.

"I think sometimes people think because they're getting an animal that's been abandoned that somehow it's a second-class animal," said SPCA Auckland CEO Christine Kalin. But SPCA dogs are just as intelligent as any other pet, she said to the New Zealand Herald.

So will dog driver licenses be a new thing? And will cats driving cars follow? It seems to all depend on how the three rescue dogs drive on live TV next week. One thing is for sure: Petside's rooting for 'em!

Need video proof? Watch this remarkable video from The Today Show.