Pilot, the dog, on the tarmac of Vancouver International Airport. (mr.ngee / Instagram)
This dog working at Vancouver International Airport is the epitome of a ‘good boy’.
Two-year-old Pilot is a part of YVR’s Wildlife Hazard Management Program team, according to the Vancouver Airport Authority in an email to Daily Hive.
Born in Finland, Pilot is a Mudi, a Hungarian breed that is known for its herding abilities, making him quite suitable for the important task at hand.
He is one of the dogs that works on the airfield with a handler from Avisure Services, finding birds on the tarmac and runways and safely chasing them off the airport environment.
The work he does, with long hours on the job to help keep plane engines bird-free (and ultimately people safe), is so precious that he sometimes even wears Rex Specs.These giant single-lens sunglass goggles protect Pilot’s eyes from the dust and debris of engines and UV rays on a clear day.
Pilot’s furry partner in crime in the airside area is Flight, a Border Collie, shown wearing protective ear muffs in the photo below.
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View this post on Instagram
Additionally, YVR has a team of trained raptors as part of its Falconry Program, which also helps discourage hazardous shorebirds, ducks, geese, and herons from remaining on the airfield.
The Airport Authority’s wildlife control team works around the clock. They have 16 trained wildlife biologists and nine vehicles to control and manage wildlife at the airport.
In 2015, the team safely captured 149 wild raptors – such as eagles, hawks, and falcons – and relocated them away from Sea Island.
Separately, the airport has a team of therapy dogs that roam around the terminal building to comfort passengers as part of its Less Airport Stress Initiative.
Here is a collection of photos of Pilot from Instagram:
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View this post on Instagram