Joe the Wonder Dog dies after making the Gold Coast Airport safer for seven years

AUSTRALIA’S first purpose trained anti-bird dog — trained to scare birds of the Gold Coast Airport’s runways — has suddenly died.

After years of trying to scare birds away from Gold Coast Airport, Joe the Wonder Dog has died.

The black Labrador dog who chased away birds at Gold Coast Airport to stop them from flying into plane engines, has died.

‘Joe the Wonder Dog’ passed away Sunday. An airport spokesman said the cause of death was unknown.

The 10-year-old black Labrador Staffordshire Terrier was the first purpose-trained airport bird dispersal dog in Australia. He worked at Coolangatta airport for seven years.

After years of trying to scare birds away from Gold Coast Airport, Joe the Wonder Dog has died.

Joe spent his days chasing birds away from the airfield, assisting Avisure and Gold Coast Airport’s airside operations with wildlife hazard management.

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Gold Coast Airport chief operating officer Marion Charlton said Joe would be remembered fondly for his contribution to keeping passengers, crew and aircraft safe.

“He worked here for seven years, and in that time, we estimate he dispersed almost 4000 birds,” she said.

Magpie Geese fly over an airport during takeoff and landing of passenger jets.

Avisure managing director Phil Shaw said Joe helped keep the airport safe while lifting the spirits of his human co-workers.

“Joe applied the same enthusiasm to chasing birds as he did to all aspects of his life, particularly eating,” he said.

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“Avisure rescued Joe as a puppy from an RSPCA shelter, and our dog trainer Murray spent two years training him before he joined the airport.”

Joe had two handlers, initially Martin Ziviani, and more recently Catherine Austin, who he worked with from 2014.

In 2011, Joe was a finalist in the Australian Airports Association (AAA) Airport Project of the Year award.