A Rescue Success!

Goose-control dog gets its feet wet in new job

By John Streit
The Virginian-Pilot
KEMPSVILLE

Golfers aren’t the only ones getting mulligans at Kempsville Greens. Honey, a year-old Australian pinscher and Labrador mix, got a second shot at life as a goose-control dog at the golf course last December. Her goal at this point is just to stir them up, said Stephen Cotter, Honey’s handler at Kempsville Greens. If you aggravate them enough, they’ll eventually go away. Honey was once a stray dog left for dead at Virginia Beach Animal Control. He underwent an unlikely transformation, thanks to Cindy Fleisch of the Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Control. The nonprofit organization encourages prospective pet owners to adopt from the city instead of buying dogs and cats. In October, Fleisch said, she learned that the city spent $3,500 for the purchase and training of Chip, the border collie that chases ducks and geese from Red Wing Golf Course. “I had a fit,” said Fleisch, who lives in Kempsville. Even though it’s a great concept, why would they spend that kind of money when they have the pick of the entire Animal Control? Fleisch contacted Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation golf administrator Dick Nutter about using an adopted dog from Animal Control as an option for future goose control. After cutting through a bit of red tape to authorize an adoption, the city assembled the team of Fleisch, Virginia Beach police officer and canine obedience specialist Maynard Pease of Cavalier K9 and his student Lisa Rapacki to select candidates for Kempsville Greens dog. They determined the dog must have a strong preydrive, take a liking to water, be friendly and sociable, be The desired dog must have a strong preydrive, take a liking to water, be friendly and sociable, be of medium size, and have the physical endurance and muscularity to work all day. Obedience specialist Maynard Pease said he immediately knew that, with some training, Honey had the potential to fit the traits. of medium size, and have the physical endurance and muscularity to work all day. Pease said he immediately knew that, with some training, Honey had the potential to fit the traits. He and Rapacki gave Honey some real-world training at waterfowl hot spots such as Mount Trashmore Park. After showing an initial hesitation to get wet, Honey warmed up to the chilly water, giving Pease and Rapacki confidence the dog was ready. The main thing was building the prey drive, said Rapacki, a Norfolk resident who housed Honey for three weeks during her training. We’d tell her softly to get the duck, in her ear while holding her back. We’d let her chase, but we want to leave that drive unfulfilled so it would continue to build. Honey now lives with Cotter, who drives the dog to Kempsville Greens daily from his home in Portsmouth.