Meet Piper, the Border Collie who works at Cherry Capital Airport in Michigan and has an important job.

We’ve got a slight warmup coming this weekend in Northern #Michigan, so why not #tbt to even warmer weather from last summer? Pipe shrugged off his first encounter with a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the @usairforce’s 349th Air Mobility Wing, Team Travis, like he had seen it a million times. Was amazing to watch him watch this beast take off, staring at it from left to right. I love this image. Unique (I think) and quintessential Airport K-9. Holy crap we’re lucky. ✈️🇺🇸✈️🇺🇸 # #airportk9 #airport #k9 #k9team #k9storm #rexspecsk9 #muttmuffs #aviation #flying #airforce #usaf #military #c17 #summer #bordercollie #bordercolliesofinstagram #proudbordercollies #dog #dogsoffreedom #dogsofinstagram #workingdog #workingdogsofig #traversecity #puremichigan @dogsofinstagram @militarybadassery @globalair @globalmilitaryaircraft @insta.plane @instagramaviation @deptofdefense @ridiculous @theglobemaster

A photo posted by K-9 Piper (@airportk9) on

Piper is 7 years old and works as a part of the airport’s Wildlife Hazard Management Plan.

Piper often likes to randomly stop and enter deep thought. Eyes closed, he breaths deep and just listens. Here he is on a perfectly still winter’s morn during a taxiway inspection. I know I’m slightly biased, but there’s something special about this guy. PS – The stuff you see on the ground is masonry sand. We use tons and tons every year to increase friction. # #airportk9 #airport #k9 #k9team #k9storm #aviation #sunrise #daybreak #deepthoughts #bordercollie #bordercolliesofinstagram #proudbordercollies #dog #dogsoffreedom #dogsofinstagram #workingdog #workingdogsofig #traversecity #puremichigan #Michigan #puremittigan #awesomemitten #michiganawesome @puremittigan @puremichigan @awesomemitten @michiganders @proudbordercollies

A photo posted by K-9 Piper (@airportk9) on

 

He spends most of his time chasing birds away from the runways and taxiways.

To date, he’s scared away over 2,450 birds

K-9 Piper fractured a toe 24 Nov 2015 as he deployed to chase a snowy owl and will be in a cast until at least February.

Until then, he is reassigned as the airport’s Chief Morale Officer.

Piper will soon be cast free, hopefully around the third week in February.

Brian Edwards is Piper’s – Owner, trainer, handler, PR rep or you can say the one who is Piper’s airport operations supervisor.

Brian, is the one who manages Piper’s website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.