Paw Patrol: Dogs Now Being Used to Deter Hungry Seagulls in Sydney Harbor

It's always important to keep an eye on your belongings as a tourist — especially when your assailant has the advantage of going airborne in the blink of an eye. And nowhere is this problem worse than at Sydney Harbor's famed Opera House, where hungry gulls have been targeting unsuspecting patrons dining at the attraction's outdoor bar and restaurants.

The problem has gotten so bad recently that in order to combat the greedy gulls, the Sydney Opera House has decided to call for backup by bringing in a team of five dogs that will patrol the area with handlers from 12 - 4pm in the hopes of scaring off the pesky scavengers. "There were broken glasses galore and waitstaff were afraid to leave the kitchen with food," says the Australian publication, Broadstreet.

The gulls, which are native to Australia, are "protected by law, like the majority of native species on the continent," according to Lonely Planet. Past initiatives to get rid of the dive-bombers have included the deployment of a robotic hawk as well as the use of "noisemakers."

Since neither method proved effective, there was no choice left but to call in the dogs. Lonely Planet reports that "the Opera Bar has seen an 80% drop in meal replacement caused by gulls making off with guests’ food" since the program's trial period began in January. Similar tactics have also been successful at the Australian Maritime Museum.

The Opera House currently has three outdoor dining options: the Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside. “We always had great reviews: great food, great drinks, great service, but hate the seagulls," Opera Kitchen general manager Trevelyan Bale told Broadsheet.

H/T: Lonely Planet