Watch this Border Collie Protect the Runways at a Michigan Airport

Dogs are man's best friend — and have been trained to do a wide variety of things, from being hunting companions to acting as seeing-eyes for the blind. But this particular pooch is known for something quite unique. Piper, an 8-year-old Border Collie, works at the Traverse City, Michigan airport (TVC) protecting aircraft from birds and other wildlife. Birds have been known to occasionally cause extensive damage to planes, like when US Airways flight 1549 (piloted by Captain Sully) was forced to land in the Hudson River due to a collision with a flock of geese.

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In this week's edition of crazy aviation videos, watch as Piper conducts patrols of the runaways and taxiways throughout the day to make sure that no animals interfere with airline operations. Apparently Piper is more effective than the USDA Wildlife Service attempt's to scare birds with firing blank shotgun rounds into the air.

"The airport is his home," said Brian Edwards, who is Piper's partner and trainer.

H/T: CBS