Thunder has been patrolling the parks and golf courses in the Town of Tonawanda, N.Y. for much of his 13 years, but will relinquish duties to a new dog in time. “When he was younger, we would go to all the parks to keep the geese off the baseball diamonds and soccer fields. Now he hangs out in the golf courses with me,” says his handler Scott Boivin, a greenskeeper at the town golf courses.
Thunder, a border collie, is the Town of Tonawanda (N.Y.) Youth and Parks Recreation Department’s third guard dog, The Buffalo News reported. He is unofficially retired, said his handler Scott Boivin, but still goes to the Sheridan Park Golf Course to do the job he’s done for 11 years—keep the course free of goose poop.
Thunder is 13 years old, and his legs don’t work like they used to, The News reported. Boivin, who is a greenskeeper at the town golf courses, has been with Thunder since he was a pup and remembers when the dog used to chase the geese all over the golf course on his own four legs.
“When he was younger, we would go to all the parks to keep the geese off the baseball diamonds and soccer fields. Now he hangs out in the golf courses with me,” said Boivin.
Because of Thunder’s age, they ride around on a golf cart to scare away the geese, The News reported.
“If he’s on the cart the geese will take off before we even get close to them. Just his presence is enough to freak them out,” said Boivin.
Thunder used to patrol the town golf courses at Sheridan Park and Brighton Park, but he’s mainly at Sheridan Park now, The News reported.
Although Thunder has unofficially retired, he shares such a strong bond with Boivin that he doesn’t leave his side at all, The News reported. He accompanies Boivin to work, even when he’s not really needed.
Thunder loves swimming, and often takes a dip in the Boivin family pool, The News reported. Boivin said when he’s having a bad day, Thunder is always there to listen.
“He’s my boy, my buddy, family. As much as I’m with him, he’s with me, too,” said Boivin.
Boivin says he’s not sure where Thunder’s name came from but guessed it could be because he is scared of the sound, The News reported.
“He’ll hide wherever he could crawl into a corner or comes sits next to me,” said Boivin. “He’s a little baby with thunder for sure, and fireworks which most dogs can’t stand.”
The town is in the process of looking for another guard dog and a handler, The News reported. Being a handler is a serious commitment as you’ll be paired with one dog for the duration of the dog’s duties.
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