This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, April 2013 issue.
Halley (Fanfare Jetsetter Can RN AGN AGNJ ME CGN HIC Am RN ME CGC TDI) is a Border Terrier owned by myself, and we live in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Halley is a very ambitious and clever dog—as you can see, she has more letters after her name than in it.
Halley has a job with the City of Richmond (in British Columbia, Canada) as a Snow Goose Hazer. Each fall, an estimated 100,000 of the white birds fly 4,000 kilometers (about 2,500 miles) to the Fraser River delta to escape their frigid winter home in Wrangel Island, Russia.
By year’s end, the birds head farther south to the Skagit delta before returning to Richmond in the spring, en route to their Russian home. In Richmond, the geese traditionally feed on intertidal marsh plants, but in recent years they have moved inland, feeding on farmers’ fields, parks, sports fields, and even residential backyards—leaving muddy, goose-poop-laden land behind.
City officials have tried fireworks, air pistols, lasers, military-grade lights, and professional dog handlers in a bid to scare the birds away. The City has also offered farmers in southwest Richmond cash incentives to grow winter cover crops to attract geese and keep them away from unwanted sites.
Halley was trained and screened by a “professional snow goose dog hazer” before receiving her official City vest. The dogs are allowed to run off-leash when hazing geese. They should “encourage” the geese to leave the fields, directing them to farmers’ growing winter crops or to their winter grounds near the Skagit delta.
The Richmond Public Library runs a program where children read to dogs. The children select books they think the dogs will like, practice with a teen mentor, and then read to the dogs.
Many children and their parents are nervous around dogs; however, Halley is often the favorite because of her small size. Halley is outgoing and loves people, so she is thrilled when children come to visit her.
Some children are shy about reading out loud, but they know the dogs won’t judge their performance. Halley has been part of the Reading to Dogs program at the Richmond Public Library since June 2012.
The Therapy Dogs International website describes the program as follows:
“This program encourages children to read by providing a non-judgmental listener and furry friend to read to. The dog won’t laugh at them if they make a mistake or stumble over a word but will instead lie next to them and enjoy being read to.
The children learn to associate reading with being with the dog and begin to view reading in a positive way. Over time, the child’s reading ability and confidence can improve because they are practicing their skills, which makes them enjoy reading even more.”
