The problematic Canada geese at Cupertino parks will be prompted to “move along” by specially trained herding dogs later this spring, summer and fall.

The Cupertino City Council voted on Feb. 5 to change its municipal code to hire professional off-leash dog services n the spring and summer to chase away the messy waterfowl. The vote was 4-1, with Vice Mayor Gilbert Wong dissenting.

It is a violation of city ordinance to have a dog off-leash in public for any reason.

“We wanted to make it clear for the professional goose services that this was also exempted,” said Timm Borden, the city’s public works director.

The city’s unofficial war on geese has seen a number of strategies implemented the past three years. The geese and the fecal mess they leave behind have long been a problem at city parks, especially Memorial Park on Stevens Creek Boulevard.

Numerous complaints from residents and the frustration last year of Rod Sinks, the city’s newest council member, resulted in renewed interest. Mayor Orrin Mahoney even called the Memorial Park goose problem a public health issue during his Jan. 30 state of the city address.

The city is targeting May to move the waterfowl along with the help of the canines. The dogs will periodically work to herd the birds until the molting season in June and July, and then resume through November, according to a city staff report.

Geese will not be harassed during the molting season because they are unable to fly. The dogs will be off-leash and under the control of trained handlers. The city is planning public outreach well in advance of the unleashing so that park users will know what to expect while the handler and dogs are working at the site.

The specially trained dogs will attempt to herd the geese rather than catch or harm them, city staff told the council. The dogs are so skilled that they usually do not bark, they’ll wear vests to make clear their professional status, Borden said.

In December, city staff told the council that roughly 250 to 300 Canada geese have taken up daytime residence in Memorial Park and at least six other city parks and sports fields. It is believed that the geese do not nest or sleep at Memorial Park, but they hang out in the morning near the bay, local percolation ponds or at local schools until children arrive.

The geese stick around Cupertino parks and other areas year-round due to the fertilized lawns, water features and occasional food handouts from residents.

Numerous attempts to eliminate the geese have been made just in the last few years, albeit with limited success. In December, the city established fines of $50, $100 and $200, respectively, for the first, second, third and subsequent violations for those caught feeding the birds.