“Canine crew sniffs out clues in battle against bedbugs” |
| Canine crew sniffs out clues in battle against bedbugs Posted: 25 Aug 2010 01:16 PM PDT WALCOTT, Iowa - Chicago has the dubious honor of ranking fifth nationally for bedbug infestation. That's actually good news for a Windy City company that detects bedbugs. They're winning the war with some four-legged friends. Walter the dog has a nose for detective work. But this two year old border collie is no ordinary McGruff. His mission -- tracking down bedbugs. "I think I'm a pretty good inspector," said Carla Wagner, a certified canine handler and licensed pest control operator. "But by far, my dog and I can do a much better job together." Bedbugs -- those creeping, crawling insects that bite in the night. They're turning up in droves these days and creating demand to get them out. "Michigan Avenue condos to CHA housing, there is no prejudice when it comes to bedbugs," said Wagner, a 2002 Augustana College graduate. "They just want your blood." Chicago-based Canine Detection & Inspection Services use dog handler teams. On this Wednesday, Jim Stenfeldt and Walter step into action. The longtime Walcott, Ia., trainer finds a niche with this itchy occupation. "Pretty soon, the reality set in," he recalled. "It's just another odor, another problem and dogs indeed can do it." While some dogs work for food, Walter gets his tennis ball. That reward can keep him on the case for hours. "In some cases, sniffing out drugs is easier," Stenfeldt said. "It's easier to contain than bedbugs. But we don't want them getting loose. We don't want to create an infestation." Like most professionals, Walter earns his keep. Dogs like him on the job command up to $350 per hour. This slobbery sleuth is a dedicated detective. Sniffing for clues, it's all in a day's work. Handler-dog teams take part in passive alerts designed to avoid scratching and jumping on furniture. And they're up to 85% effective in discovering bedbugs. After that, it's up to exterminators to get rid of them. "With the world travel that we see now, you can bring bedbugs home from the airlines, cab, anywhere," Stenfeldt said. "You just never know. I really don't see an end in sight anytime soon." A tail-wagging battle sniffs on in this battle against bedbugs. For more information, check out www.canineinspection.com. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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