"Radar, the airport bird dog, retires from Southwest Florida International Airport"

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Radar, the airport bird dog, retires from Southwest Florida International
Airport
The Cape Coral (FL) Daily Breeze


Radar, the official bird dog at Southwest Florida International Airport, is
retiring after a successful, 7-year career, the Lee County Port Authority
announced today. 

The 9-year-old border collie joined the airport in June 2001, after the
first bird dog retired. In 1999, Southwest Florida International Airport
became the first commercial airport in the nation to use a dog as part of
its Wildlife Management Program.

"This program is very important - it keeps our travelers, birds, and
aircraft safe by reducing the number of birds on the airfield in an
environmentally friendly manner," said Robert M. Ball, A.A.E., executive
director of the Lee County Port Authority. "We are definitely going to miss
Radar. She truly enjoyed her job and was a dedicated and hard-working part
of our airport family."

Adopted from Flyaway Farms in North Carolina, Radar was trained to herd, not
hurt, the birds. She regularly patrolled the areas near the runway and
taxiways with her handler, who directed her to clear specific areas.

In 2004, Radar received the Canine Good Citizenship certification from the
American Kennel Club and her Master K-9 Wildlife Management certification
from Wildlife Unity. She was a highly sought-after participant in airport
community-affairs programs and, due to her unique role at the airport,
became a celebrity of sorts who was featured in local, state, national and
international media.

Radar will retire to the five-acre ranch of her handler, Rebecca Stansifer,
where she currently resides. 

Southwest Florida International Airport served more than 8 million
passengers in 2007 and ranks among the top 50 busiest airports in the United
States. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or
construction. To learn more, visit www.flylcpa.com.

 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************