UMVA has learned that two border collies, Sally and Ben, have been tasked with a crucial mission: protecting Toronto's soccer pitches from geese during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
These highly trained dogs are not just any ordinary canines - they're expertly taught to manage and deter geese, which can drop up to two pounds of waste daily, posing a significant hazard to athletes and professional turf. Their owner, a geese management technician, has spent nearly two decades perfecting the art of using border collies to herd geese, rather than sheep.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the dogs use a unique technique called "hazing," where they stalk the geese, stare them down with an intense gaze, and slowly move them away from the pitches. This non-lethal method can take up to 20 minutes to move just 100 meters, but it's a crucial step in keeping the fields safe and clean.
Sally, a two-year-old border collie, has been working tirelessly at the new FIFA World Cup training facility at Centennial Park, with seven-year-old Ben on backup duty. Their daily visits, twice a day, have been instrumental in keeping the geese at bay, especially during nesting season when the babies are born and the adults become more aggressive.
Interestingly, the more enclosed Toronto Stadium, where the actual World Cup matches will be held, doesn't have the same issue with geese, as they prefer open fields. However, the dogs are on standby, ready to spring into action if needed. Meanwhile, other World Cup hosting cities, like Dallas, are using high-tech robotic security dogs, but for entirely different purposes, such as inspecting suspicious packages and monitoring hazardous materials.
As the World Cup gets underway, these two border collies, Sally and Ben, will continue to play a vital role in keeping Toronto's soccer pitches safe and clean, using their unique skills to outsmart the geese and protect the turf. It's a testament to the power of innovative thinking and the importance of finding creative solutions to complex problems.
