Lake Zurich salutes man and dog for chasing geese to keep Paulus Park clean for 11 years

At 80 years young, Bob Warren says he plans to continue volunteering with his dog to chase Canada geese from Lake Zurich's Paulus Park in an effort to keep it clean.

Warren and his purebred Labrador, Mollie, were honored for 11 years of service during Monday's village board meeting. Paulus Park is on the village's namesake lake.

Mollie, 12, received a big bone and bacon-flavored dog treats from Mayor Thomas Poynton. Warren got a certificate of appreciation for volunteering since 2003.

"We have battled the Canadian geese on Lake Zurich for years," Poynton told the crowd. "We have tried everything from installing ropes and scooping up waste to using owl decoys and other things. As nice as they are to look at, the geese create health hazards. The average 10- to 16-pound goose produces 1½ pounds of waste a day. That's a lot."

Retired from jobs as a paper sales representative and Alaskan fishing guide, Warren said he wanted to give back to the community after elevated E. coli bacteria levels closed the beach on the village's namesake lake. Warren said Monday that he's proud the beach - shuttered for a month in 2002 by bacterial contamination attributed to goose feces - has been continuously available since he and Mollie began patrolling Paulus Park. He trained Mollie so he can let her loose to make the geese fly away.

"My life and Mollie's life over there has just been super," he said.

Because dogs are banned from Paulus Park, the village board in 2003 had to approve an ordinance amendment making an exception for Mollie. Warren and the dog have village identification and wear orange vests similar to the ones Lake Zurich park and recreation department employees wear outside.

Warren, who lives near Paulus Park, visits the property with Mollie every day. He said it doesn't take long to get rid of the geese.

"They see the big black dog and these geese know her," he said. "And when you walk into the park, every goose head is up, and then they fly out."

Poynton said Warren can chase the geese with Mollie for as long as he wants. Warren said he said he doesn't have any plans to cut back from a couple of paid gigs to frighten geese off suburban golf courses with Mollie or his volunteer service for the village.

To cap Monday evening, Mollie barked on command for the village board when Warren told her to say "thank you." He said he's happy to be known as "Mollie's Dad" by those who see the duo in Lake Zurich.

"She's locally famous," he said. "Everybody knows her."