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PrintSpecial Report: Pest Protection
Penny is a doggie detective, part of a new breed of pest controllers specially trained to sniff out bed bugs hiding in your home.
Scott Williams, Trainer, New England Bed Bug Dogs
"Usually, in a normal-sized room, within a minute and a half, if there's bugs there, they're going to find them."
Working alongside an exterminator, Penny gets down to business inside this Brookline apartment, scouring the place with her snout.
Victor Palermo, Ultra Safe Pest Management
"The dogs will go right under a bed, they'll go on top of the bed, they'll go behind sofas."
She's trained to signal when she sniffs out something suspicious. And just a few minutes later she does. Right here on the bed Penny finds the skin of bed bugs, which means the creepy critters were here, feeding.
Penny is one of a select few Baystate dogs to go through highly specialized bed bug training.
Scott Williams, Trainer, New England Bed Bug Dogs
"We also want to get them to differentiate between live bed bugs, the dead ones and all of the other bugs they may potentially find."
Somerville resident Teena Eggleston knows firsthand about having these uninvited guests in her home.
Teena Eggleston
"Devastating to realize you're going to bed at night being fed upon."
She had her apartment treated twice to get rid of the bed bugs, but she still worried they would come back.
Teena Eggleston
"I still have stuff I haven't unpacked because I don't want to be re-infested."
So she called in the canines for a final sweep, or should we say a final "sniff."
Teena Eggleston
"It's just amazing to be able to have that ability to have them go in and sniff."
Penny, joined by Milo, the Beagle, get right to work. And after a full, "rover once-over", Teena learns she is bed-bug free!
Teena Eggleston
"It's a game for them and for me it's a blessing. Thanks puppies!"
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