Keep the Seagull Patrol Dogs at Federation Square

[UPDATE: We have heard back from Emma Murdoch, Head of Fed Square Operations and Assets, who says "We do recognise the value of the program during busier periods and will consider the option of reapplying for a permit... for spring/summer." This is not viable - to apply, recruit new handlers and train dogs and staff every spring, whilst leaving Fed Square without a patrol for 3+ months of the year, is not the solution! We will keep pushing for a full time dog patrol all year round.]

Why this matters

Hi, I'm Jules. My dog Harry is one of the seagull patrol dogs at Federation Square. I'm writing because the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAPCo) have unfortunately decided not to renew our program. Without action, the patrols - and the dogs and handlers who run them - will stop in June.  

This decision affects everyone who visits Fed Square. This program is the main thing keeping seagull incidents under control in one of Melbourne's busiest public spaces. 

What happens when the dogs aren't there

Federation Square is a vibrant cultural precinct that draws thousands of people per day... and all that food draws seagulls, in growing numbers, with increasingly bold and concerning behaviours. When the bird patrols aren't on, they birds don't just hover - they swoop. They steal food straight out of people's hands. On more than one occasion a bird has collided with someone mid-grab, pecking at hands and faces. 

I learned this firsthand in early 2025 (before the program started) when I sat down to eat my sushi rolls for lunch. Three seagulls descended on me at once - one tore the roll out of my hands, flapping its wings in my face, while the others went for the rest of the food in my lap. Not only did I end up with no lunch, I was genuinely shaken from the experience! 

At the time, incidents like this were happening at Fed Square every day. They're safety incidents in a public place - people have been startled, hurt, put off from eating outside, which then also affects the cafes and eateries who rely on foot traffic. 

Why the dogs are the right answer

While these birds are a part of a natural urban environment, their presence in large numbers can be disruptive and dangerous. The patrol program is efficient, effective, and humane risk management. The dogs don't harm the birds - they herd them. Our dogs play a crucial role in gently moving the seagulls on, without traps, spike strips or culling. It's a method trusted at sites like the Sydney Opera House for exactly that reason. 

Our highly trained dogs and handlers make the area pleasant and enjoyable for everyone... and keep our sushi rolls intact. People feel safer. Visitors smile. The dogs are now part of what makes Fed Square iconic and welcoming. 

What we lose if it ends

Cut the program and the seagulls come straight back, and so do the incidents. We lose a proven safety measure, and the public loses something they're grown to love. And our handlers (some of whom rely on this as their only source of income) lose their work. 

What we're asking

We urge Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAPCo) at Federation Square to reinstate and renew the seagull patrol program, and to look at how it can be strengthened rather than scrapped. The real question isn't whether to keep it. It's how to build on something that already works. 

If you've ever enjoyed a meal (or would like to) at Fed Square, please sign! Your support can make a significant difference. Your signature tells MAPCo that this program matters to the people who use the space. 

We will be presenting this petition to MAPCo and their CEO Katrina Sedgewick.