Not a wild goose chase: two dogs keep birds from the World Cup training field in Toronto

Border collies Ben and Sally are on a special mission for the World Cup in Toronto: keeping the infamous Canada geese away from the training field used by visiting teams in preparation for their matches.

It’s hard work that has to be done twice a day, five days a week, while we’re on standby when the birds decide they fancy some football action at the facilities at Centennial Park in the northwest corner of the city.

But Ben and Sally are always ready.

«They are absolutely perfect work colleagues. They will work from (sunrise to sunset) and still want to go in the evening when we finish work,» says Gareth Williams, the owner of Border Control Bird Dogs, a goose management agency contracted for the job.

Williams explained why the birds, which are protective and sometimes aggressive – with a reputation for occupying green spaces near airports and parks – pose a problem for organizers of the global showpiece.

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«It’s very important to keep the football fields clean because geese droppings actually transmit disease, which would obviously be bad for everyone. It also actually burns the turf, so the playing surface wouldn’t be as good,» he said.

Eight-year-old Ben is easy-going and a veteran at his job. He is always looking for a goose.

Sally, who is 2.5 years old, is in work mode as soon as she puts on a hi-vis vest, says her handler Spencer Jones. But he has no complaints.

“It’s our first year working together, but the bond between her and (I)… has grown so quickly and we’ve become a great team working towards the FIFA (World) Cup,” Jones said.

Although the agency has been helping manage the geese population in green spaces including cemeteries, hospitals and golf courses in the province of Ontario for years, the dogs have received special attention during the World Cup.

“It was actually a breath of fresh air to make people aware of what we do,” Williams said.

Published on June 25, 2026