Piper on the job
(U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Air Station Traverse City)
Piper, the wildlife control canine at the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Mich., checks the area for pests as aircrews from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City in an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and the Royal Canadian Air Force in a CH-146 Griffon take off during a joint search-and-rescue training exercise at the airport Oct. 17, 2015. The Coast Guard routinely partners with local and international agencies to ensure solidarity when conducting rescue operations together.
“K-9 Piper is a seven year old Border Collie trained in and is charged with wildlife control while on duty. This includes chasing all sorts of birds and detecting/tracking mammals on/in the ground. K-9 Piper works tirelessly year round to ensure aircraft arrive/depart safely, including United States Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City assets.”
Piper has been nominated for this year’s American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards in the “Emerging Heroes” category and is a working dog.
However, he seems to be taking his newfound celebrity status in stride.
