TORONTO — When World Cup teams arrive in Toronto to prepare for their matches, two furry employees are already hard at work making sure the playing surfaces are ready: Border collies named Ben and Sally.
Their job? Keeping Canada geese far away from the training fields at Centennial Park in the northwestern part of the city. It’s a task they take on twice a day, five days a week — and they’re always ready for more.
Gareth Williams, who owns Border Control Bird Dogs, a goose management company contracted for the assignment, says the dogs are tireless workers. “They’re absolutely perfect work companions. They will work from (dawn till dusk) and still be wanting to go in the evening when we finish work,” he said.
Williams explained why keeping the fields free of geese is so important for an event of this scale. “It’s very important to keep the soccer fields clear, because goose feces actually carry disease, which would obviously be bad for everybody. It also actually burns the turf, so it would cause the playing surface not to be as good,” he said.
Canada geese are well known for their territorial behavior and tendency to take over green spaces near parks and airports, making them a real challenge for event organizers.
Ben, the eight-year-old veteran of the duo, has a calm and experienced approach to the work, always keeping an eye out for any birds that wander too close.
Sally, at just two-and-a-half years old, is the younger partner. Her handler, Spencer Jones, says she shifts into full work mode the moment she puts on her high-visibility vest. Jones is more than happy with how the partnership has developed. “It’s our first year working together, but the bond between her and (me)… it’s grown so rapidly, and we’ve become an awesome team working at FIFA (World) Cup,” he said.
The company has been managing goose populations across Ontario for years, working at locations such as cemeteries, hospitals, and golf courses. But the World Cup has brought them a level of attention they aren’t used to.
“It’s actually been a breath of fresh air to have the chance to make people aware of what we do,” Williams said.
