Meet the Geese Police

A unique company provides a humane alternative to traditionally harsh animal control of geese.

Wholesale slaughter of Canada Geese is a common practice for the Department of Agriculture across the country, and many people don’t like it one bit. That’s where Geese Police comes in. 

Cathy Benedict, president of Geese Police of Virginia, uses Border Collies to humanely control Canada Geese populations on government, business and residential properties where they would otherwise be rounded up and euthanized. 

Benedict’s business is a franchise started by David Marcks of Howell, N.J., who started the business 20 years ago to provide an alternative goose control option that incorporates environmentally safe and humane practices. 

Benedict started her own similar company 12 years ago called Geese B Gone, but soon realized that she and her untrained Border Collie needed help.

“I was making so many mistakes. I was getting ready to get out of the business,” Benedict said. “I was making a ton of money, but I didn’t really know what I was doing.” 

Benedict now has two specially trained Border Collies, Bett and Rocket, and is looking to buy two more in an effort to expand her company after the slacking economy forced her to downsize.

Angry animal lovers occasionally confront Benedict when they see her sending her dogs after the geese in the field. But after explaining the philosophy and practices of her company, she says those people generally become fans of her work.

Benedict enjoys what she does because it leads to happy endings. The geese are allowed to live and the dogs get to work, which is what they really want to do. 

The border collies used by Geese Police franchises are retired to comfortable homes when they’re about 10 years old. Sometimes Geese Police employees adopt them as pets. Other times they’re given to farms or other people who have light work for them to do.

“Just because they’ve slowed down doesn’t mean they don’t want to work,” Benedict said. “Border Collies need to have a job. That’s why they’re not good as pets. If you don’t give them a job, they’ll find one on their own, and nine times out of 10 you won’t like it.”

Benedict also uses her skills and canine employees to educate by doing demonstrations at elementary schools and community events. She enjoys her work so much that she never charges for demonstrations.

“I’m the luckiest girl in the world,” Benedict said. “I can’t believe I get paid to do this kind of thing.”

See Cathy Benedict and the Geese Police in action:

Video by Miriam Card. All Geese Police specific photos by Miriam Card. All other photos used under Creative Commons license.

Learn More:

Visit the Geese Police website. Find out where they're located and how the company got started.