Southwest Florida International Airport is going to the dogs. Make that “A” dog. A very smart border collie named Radar to be exact.
The 9-year-old pooch earned his name by helping airport officials patrol the runway. Radar’s job: chase away birds and other critters that could be sucked into aircraft engines.
It’s a serious task and one Radar has effectively mastered since being hired back in 2001. Airport administrators say border collies like Radar scare the birds but don’t harm them. Only, airport workers say they can’t take credit for coming up with the pooch patrol idea. The military was first to use dogs to chase birds from runways. However, Southwest Florida was the first commercial airport to begin employing chase dogs in 1999.
And lest you think Radar spends much of his day napping near baggage claim consider that the airport is surrounded by lakes and wetlands, which means the four-legged airport employee is on his feet much of the day scaring away several varieties of flying species, including sandhill cranes, eagles, wood storks, turkey vultures, egrets, herons and ducks.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, birds being sucked into airplane engines is one of the most persistent safety problems at airports. While some airports use fake owls, firecrackers and propane cannons to deter birds, others are finally taking notice of how well dog management programs such as Southwest Florida’s is working and are considering adopting the program themselves.
So the next time you are sitting in an airport terminal and spot a dog dashing across the runway be glad… he or she is helping to ensure you have a safe flight.
L.A. ZOO’S NEWEST ATTRACTION
Move over Reggie the alligator there’s a new guy in town.
The next time you are in Los Angeles considering heading over to the zoo to check out its newest resident.
You can stare at Alfred all you want… only he won’t be able to see you.
That’s because Alfred is a blind harbor seal. The newest member of the world-famous zoo made his debut a few days ago and is already attracting big crowds and famous faces (actor Charlie Sheen brought his two young daughters to see Alfred on Saturday).
Visitors don’t seem to mind that Alfred is missing one eye and is blind in the other (zoo officials say the animal uses the sensitive nerve endings in his whiskers to find his way around his surroundings). Especially once they hear about his amazing story of survival. According to zookeepers, Alfred was rescued off the coast of New Jersey nearly a year ago and the L.A. Zoo took him in October.
Back then Alfred weighed a mere 90 pounds and was placed in quarantine while he adjusted to his new home. In the months since, Alfred has doubled in weight and now lives with four female companions at the Sea Life Cliffs habitat near the zoo’s entrance.
He may not be able to see you, but I’m sure he can feel the love. So the next time you are in Los Angeles, zoo staff encourage you to stop in and say hi to Alfred.
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