Faced with a similar problem with Canada geese, the Town of Wakefield, Massachusetts decided to call in Lassie. For the past two years a trained Border Collie has been used to rout the feathered intruders. According to Canine Control Officer, Ken Stache, the dog has been 100 percent effective in keeping the birds off areas such as the junior high playing field and the cemetery. The advantage of a border collie is that, unlike a Labrador, they don't grab the birds, just chase them. None were as effective as the dog.
Border collies have high energy and get bored easily.
The dog lives with Stache. Melrose, Massachusetts Dog Officer, John Collins, believes a contributing factor to the geese droppings stems from people letting their dogs run loose and not picking up after them. One thing leads to another. Worms and bugs quickly develop which attract the fowl. Signs are posted.