A memorial service will be held this weekend for Piper, the goggles-wearing dog who worked at the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City.
Piper died earlier this month after a battle with cancer. He was nine years old.
Piper’s job was chasing away birds and other wildlife from the runways at the airport. He gained a fan following after photos and videos of him decked out in goggles and earmuffs were shared widely on social media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=258&v=AgQjkO4HoJ0
Airport Operations Manager Brian Edwards says he never imagined the social media accounts for his dog would resonate with so many people.
“People made a connection with him and kind of made him larger than life,” he says. “I just started it because I thought people might like to see a dog doing kind of a weird thing but then it took a life of its own.”
Edwards says he doesn’t know yet if he’ll get another dog and train him to work at the airport.
Piper's memorial service starts at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the City Opera House.
