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The City of Walla Walla will soon begin using a trained dog to address the issue of goose overpopulation at Pioneer Park. Ruthie, a goose-mitigation dog acquired by the city, will begin work at the park on Monday, March 30, 2026.
Ruthie has been trained to chase geese without harming them. This process has been proven to encourage geese to relocate and has been successful in other jurisdictions.
"Ruthie is trained to act as a natural predator," said Parks and Recreation Director Andy Coleman. "She won't hurt the geese, she’ll just encourage them to move along and not stay in the park long term."
The overpopulation of geese has become a public health and safety issue at Pioneer Park in recent years. Geese are a nuisance due to the accumulation of their droppings, their trampling and overgrazing of grass and their aggressive behavior that can be alarming to toddlers. Goose droppings can contain harmful bacteria as well as nitrogen, which can lead to excessive algal growth and reduced water quality in Pioneer Park's ponds and waterways. These issues will only increase unless action is taken.
The Parks and Recreation Department has considered various options to address the goose issue, and concluded that the most humane and cost-effective strategy to resolve the problem is with services of a goose-mitigation dog.
“I am happy that we have determined a humane and effective approach to this ongoing problem at Walla Walla’s most-used park,” Coleman said. “I look forward to seeing Ruthie help improve the usability of Pioneer Park.”
Ruthie is a 2-year-old, female border collie. She will live with a volunteer handler who will bring Ruthie to the park regularly when geese are present. The City of Walla Walla will own the dog and pay for food and veterinary expenses.
Ruthie can be identified by the red vest she will wear while working in the park.
"When residents see Ruthie working, we're asking that you please give her space. This helps her do her job safely and effectively," Coleman said.
 Ruthie
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