South Australian ambulance officers will experience an Australian-first in safety management.

Dog safety restraints will be installed on all ambulances across South Australia to keep patients, paramedics and pets safe. The restraints are a response to the ever-increasing amount of patients who rely on trained dogs.

Officials from SA Ambulance have begun working with Guide Dogs SA and other organisations to develop the best way to transport humans and their four-legged companions in safety.

SA Ambulance acting operations manager Chris Towie explains the issue: “There's no doubt we're getting more patients who have an assistance dog of some type, from people with diabetes to children with autism. To leave them [their dog] behind can be really distressing, but at the same time we've got to make sure they're safe and not in the way of paramedics.”

Mr Towie says “it's all about talking with the organisations to work out what will work best, from what length the tethering should be to where it will be in the fleet.”

“Ideally I'd like to see it happen within the next few months. It won't be all of our fleet to begin with, but I'd like to think that's what it will reach.”

Assistance Dogs Australia, which places dogs with children and adults with disabilities, says it is a great move.

Spokesperson Amanda Hope said: “Anything that can help make sure they're with their owners when they need to be is great.”

RSPCA Animal Operations executive manager Kerriann Campbell says unfortunately there are always cases where dogs are injured because there are not proper restraints in the car.

Guide Dogs SA has about 40 dogs working across the state, with another 20 puppies in training. The Royal Society for the Blind has 54 working dogs and 56 in training.