A netizen in Meishan, Sichuan, China, filmed a black Labrador driving an electric vehicle alone on the road on the 18th, joking that he must be hallucinating, seeing a dog driving a car. In the video, the black Labrador has its front paws on the steering wheel, slowly driving on a busy road, barking wildly as it 'drives.'
On the 19th, the dog’s owner Mr. Chen explained that his dog is an 'internet celebrity' locally, five years old, able to skateboard, turn on lights, and throw away garbage. After just a month of driving practice, it can already hit the road. Mr. Chen clarified that the vehicle his dog drives is a modified elderly scooter, with the braking system changed to a power cutoff brake. The footage the netizen captured was taken on his way to teach the dog to drive, and he was with his dog the entire time.
Regarding voices online questioning the dog's driving, the owner said, 'I'm facing the controversy. If it is said that I've broken the law, I'm willing to bear the responsibility. I also feel frustrated and wronged—why won't everyone recognize this? In the past, there were horse-drawn carts and ox carts, all serving people.'
Later, media outlets contacted the local public security bureau traffic management third detachment.
The staff responded, 'This is the first time we've encountered something like this. (Letting a dog drive on the road) is definitely not acceptable; it is definitely not allowed. If it's on a closed road, we will contact the police station to inform him that it can only be done on private grounds.'