AUSTRALIA – A dedicated team of patrol dogs is attracting thousands of tourists to the Sydney Harbour area and the iconic Sydney Opera House each day.
Twelve specially selected and trained Kelpies and Border Collies have been assigned a singular task: to chase away seagulls. These intelligent birds are quick learners and constantly adapt to new tricks. James Webb, the head of Mad Dogs & Englishmen, the company behind this project launched in 2019, noted, “All the dogs on the team are very friendly with people.”
For years, tourists visiting the Sydney Opera House have been plagued by seagulls stealing food and disrupting diners at nearby restaurants and bars. In an attempt to mitigate the problem, local establishments had previously experimented with owl kites, sound devices, and even a giant robotic hawk, but none proved effective.
Jade McKellar, customer director at the Opera House, which funds the patrol team, stated, “However, the dogs have delivered immediate and extremely positive results. The seagulls now keep their distance, reducing the amount restaurants have to compensate their customers by 80%.”
While the dogs might be the seagulls' most formidable adversaries, they have won the hearts of tourists from near and far. Alina Dagen, who manages one of the dogs named Bruno, shared, “The initial reaction from tourists when they see the dogs is usually surprise. Once they learn what these dogs are doing, they become even more impressed and want to pet them and take pictures.”
John Stack, the assistant director of Opera Bar, commented, “Our customers love seeing these beautiful dogs at work.” Christebelle Mascarenhas, a 24-year-old student from India studying in Sydney, occasionally visits the area at night just to see the dogs.
Most of the dogs in the team belong to a "professional roster," but some are brought by their owners to participate in the patrol for training. The seagulls’ favorite targets are often baby strollers, as children frequently drop food. But the four-legged members of the patrol team are determined not to let that happen.
