Piper, an 8-year-old Border Collie, who works at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Michigan is probably cooler than most humans you know. Piper helps to make sure the runway is safe for planes to take off and some days he even gets to ride around in a helicopter.
Basically, he’s a pretty bad ass dude. You can check out the video below to see what we mean.
Piper works alongside his human Brian Edwards, who has been an airport operations supervisor at the airport since 2008. Piper’s job is to scare birds, ducks, geese, owls, foxes, and other animals off of the runways.
Piper has been employed at the airport for more than two years.
“Piper is a Border Collie, they are working dogs,” Edwards told INSIDER. “They are meant to work so this is a dream job for Piper. He loves everything he does. He loves coming to work every day, the airport is basically his second home.”
Edwards became Piper’s owner in 2012. Prior to working in wildlife control at the airport, Piper was an obstacle racing dog. Edwards figured that he would easily be able to pick up his duties at the airport after hearing about other airports that were training dogs for wildlife control.
Edwards figured that Piper would easily be able to pick up his duties at the airport after hearing about other airports that were training dogs for wildlife control.
Edwards said it took a lot of work to train Piper as he had to get used to airplanes. Now, Piper is a crucial part of airport operations. He works in the wind, snow, sleet, and hail to make sure that animals, like the snowy owl, are cleared from the runway.
“Well, my favorite part about working with Piper is getting to work with by dog every day,” Edwards said. “We do, I feel, such a good job and I know he does such a good job. I am so extremely proud of him to see him go out and do the job every day. It’s a kind of a father’s pride thing.”
Piper injured his paw and had to wear some brightly colored casts for a while, but that helped him fulfill the number one rule on the job.
“Rule No. 1 is to always look cool,” Edwards told ABC NEWS.
And Piper’s got that rule down pat. He gets to wear those rad goggles to keep debris out of his eyes.
Edwards says seeing Piper excel, grow and learn new things is one of his greatest jobs.
“There is not greater fulfillment or enjoyment in my life,” he said.
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