Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed bug pest control firms (PCOs), Bed bug k9s, etc.
NJ - Action Pest Control K9?
(15 posts)-
lasoulta
newbite
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6
Posted 6 months ago
Mon May 18 2009 11:30:13
#
Login to Send PM
Has anyone here used Richie (handler) and Sara (dog) from this company? I have been cleared twice by another bed bug dog (visits were 8 weeks apart, most recent was last week), but I have seen blood spots on the sheets twice since Friday and my husband was bitten once by something....
We haven't done any treatments yet, because we were hoping it's nothing, but I am really nervous now. What happens if the dog clears us again?
-
your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 5,547
Posted 6 months ago
Mon May 18 2009 16:38:35
#
Login to Send PM
Several threads here may help:
-
bunnybedbug
junior member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 60
Posted 6 months ago
Fri May 22 2009 18:31:59
#
Login to Send PM
Just had Action K-9 team in today for the first time. (dog Rex, Philly row-home). I liked the technician a lot, seemed knowledgeable & determined to solve the problem. Dog found BB at both beds, dresser, washer/dryer, coffee table, and three bags of blankets etc which were on their way out to the commercial laundromat. Action will be back next week to spray, steam & fog. They also stopped by my car on their way out today and blasted it with the stuff. Will keep you posted but so far, I am encouraged. Hang in there.
bunnybedbug
-
spideyjg
oldtimer
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,405
Posted 6 months ago
Fri May 22 2009 21:55:20
#
Login to Send PM
$64,000 question. Did they confirm the alerts by digging out actual bug evidence?
Jim
-
bunnybedbug
junior member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 60
Posted 5 months ago
Mon May 25 2009 22:16:20
#
Login to Send PM
They showed me one carpet beetle and then some BB 'casings' to show me the difference. I have seen a bunch of babies/nymphs/whatever along my window sill next to the bed. But the kicker was the live, blood "engorged" one I found on my pillow, underneath the pillow case. Good enough for me. But I appreciate your skepticism and other suggestions.
bbb
-
begonebedbugs
junior member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 68
Posted 5 months ago
Tue May 26 2009 7:34:38
#
Login to Send PM
I had them out to my house twice and wasnt impressed with the handler at all. Neither time did they confirm the dogs alerts and when they left I felt more confused and worried. Plus everything I ever heard or read was to NOT fog so I didnt opt to use them to treat my house.
-
junior member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 40
Posted 5 months ago
Tue May 26 2009 15:12:43
#
Login to Send PM
As mentioned early today to "Begonebedbugs" via telephone, We appologize for the personality conflict with our technician. If a dog, make that two different dogs, on two different occassions alert to the same areas.. there has to be something "still" active. I'm glad you mentioned Fogging. In a single family dwelling, some PCO's use fogging as a way to draw the bed bugs out of their hiding spots in order to come in contact with the residual products. Bed bugs do not groom themselves as do roaches and other insects; therefore unless they come in contact with the proper chemical, extreme heat or flash freeze, most methods "alone" have little effect.
I'm assuming that the technician mentioned "fogging" as part of the treatment process because you live in a single family home.
-
junior member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 40
Posted 5 months ago
Tue May 26 2009 15:27:19
#
Login to Send PM
On Fogging. If a Bed Bug is "on the move" because of "fogging", it has allready been poisoned by the agent and will die. It cannot just get a whif and decide to leave the area with no recourse.
-
paulaw0919
oldtimer
Joined: Jul '07
Posts: 997
Posted 5 months ago
Tue May 26 2009 15:55:18
#
Login to Send PM
ActionK9. I am a believer in the k9 detection theory. But I must let you know some of what my experiences were in using them. I cannot go into full detail for it's a long story, but if wish to know specifics please PM me and we can set up a call.
During our bed bug infestation almost 2yrs ago, we had at various times before and after our structural fumigation have certified teams come for inspections of my home, vehicles and workplace. Only one of three companies kept giving us an all clear. (4 or 5 times with in a 1yr time frame I think) I have had two other companies, one being a two dog team alert to two different places (same two places by both dogs) AFTER our fumigation. I must say that nothing was done as of treatment after these alerts. I waited 30 days and brought back in the original k9 team that always gave us an all clear. And yes, after a thorough inspection with the k9 and visual by the handler...all again showed up clear.
These last two k9 inspections I mention happened a year ago this month. Still to this day, no bugs found, no signs, no skins, no fecal. So, these two different "certified" K9 teams, one being a two dog team....falsely alerted in my home.
I believe that this can happen very very easily and if the handler doesn't pick up on this from the dog.. and correct it, well, then you're wasting your time, money and may be doing much more harm than good to your customers.
The dog is bringing you to the "hot spot." You need to address that general area and find something. If nothing is found, at the very least come back in two weeks and re-inspect at no charge to the customer.
If I didn't already go through hell and back with our infestation almost two years ago I would have taken the k9 teams word on it without a doubt. In fact just a few months ago I called the two companies that falsely alerted in my home to give them an update on how we were and let them know that at this date and time proves that their team "false alerted." If they have any moral standing behind what they do, (God willing) they will address this to the best of their ability.
-
junior member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 40
Posted 5 months ago
Tue May 26 2009 19:55:04
#
Login to Send PM
paulaw0919, you pose an interesting scenario and one that is unfortunately more common than not when dealing with multible dogs and handlers. In a perfect world, I would like to imagine that if you had a sweep done by 10 dogs and 10 different trainers/handlers that you would come up with the same exact result. I have spoken to various handlers and trainers over the years in various fields of canine units. Trace evidence can pose false alerts when it comes to drug/bomb searches, but it is "part" of the investigation. A NJ State Trooper once told me of the frustration of a canine car search that had his dog going "Ape-shit", (his words not mine) and after ripping the car apart.....yep..you guessed it..no drugs. But they were there at one time..... Which leads me to a question that I may have to use to start a new thread.
Is there an Entomologist on the planet that can give a solid qualified answer on the following;
How long does it take for the Pheromones (sorry, no spell check on here) to completely dissipate from a bed bug in its various stages. There are situations with larger infestations in which the bugs may be dead, but inaccessable for the customer to vacuume, clean up, etc.
-
Action K9
It may not be pheromones... No one has studied that particular question yet... And the question needs to be re-framed.The better example is a dog that is following a rabbit's trail days after the rabbit has passed by the area.. The dog knows the path that the rabbit took & where he stopped... what exactly is the dog detecting, if the rabbit is no longer present?
It is likely the same with bed bugs... it isn't necessarily pheromones that are being detected... it may be VOCs from dead cells that were shed.. no one is really sure at this point.
This is the kind of research that I was talking about in another thread that needs to be performed by canine experts ... we know for example which chemicals that dogs are detecting when it comes to drugs or bombs... but there is no source of funding to perform this kind of basic research for bed bug detection K9s at this point.
-
Action K9
I re-read your comment & realized that you are asking two different questions. The first was about trace evidence & K9 detection.
The second question is ... How does a K9 discriminate between a live bed bug & a dead bed bug ? ... Or how long does a bed bug need to be dead to smell like a "corpse" to a dog?
Does the bug start to smell dead to the dog immediately...in ten minutes...20 minutes...an hour...8 hours ..a couple of days or weeks? No one has published any research on this subject & there isn't any current source of funding to investigate the question.
Does the dead bug create new VOCs that are associated with decomposition or does a dessicated specimen smell different to the K9 for some other reason?
-
BEDBUGGEDWIFE
newbite
Joined: Apr '09
Posts: 15
Posted 5 months ago
Thu May 28 2009 21:27:04
#
Login to Send PM
I am BEDBUGGEDWIFES husband. This forum has helped us deal with our bed bug problem. We actually think the problem is now solved. As a K9 officer myself, I enjoy reading the threads that involve the topic of bed bug detection dogs.
We found a resource out of this forum who was very helpful. We have stayed in contact with this person and asked him why we don't see his comments on Bed Bugger Forum any longer. Gary Broberg of Bed Bug Dog Inspections told us that he was black listed from the forum and was no longer allowed to log in. And if that is true then this forum has lost an honest and valuable information resource who brought controversy and valuable information to this forum. I must admit that even I found him to be a little abrasive from time to time with how he addressed people. Maybe we need to lighten up and not take things so personally. When I am on my job I have people call me names all day. I can't let it effect me. And neither should those who don't like how he expressed himself. I mean, people its not like we actually come in personal contact with one another.
Gary has taken positions and offered a lot of information that made a great deal of sence. I can tell you that Gary very helpful to my wife and I. We came to like him a lot. And the people who have who have argued with him in the past would also like him.
I can't believe that he was that much of a threat.Joe
-
your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 5,547
Posted 5 months ago
Sun Jun 14 2009 22:19:39
#
Login to Send PM
BEDBUGGEDWIFE - 2 weeks ago »
We found a resource out of this forum who was very helpful. We have stayed in contact with this person and asked him why we don't see his comments on Bed Bugger Forum any longer. Gary Broberg of Bed Bug Dog Inspections told us that he was black listed from the forum and was no longer allowed to log in.
Hi Joe,
I notice you joined the site two days after Gary Broberg was banned.
Did you have another username prior to this?
-
ripoffexterminators
newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 13
Posted 3 months ago
Sat Aug 1 2009 18:55:01
#
Login to Send PM
I HAVE PERSONALLY FOUND ACTIONS DOGS TO BE EFFECTIVE ONLY IN A LIMITED WAY. I HIRED ACTION AND WE HAVE A FAILURE WITH OUR TREATMENT AFTER THREE MONTHS. FEEL FREE TO SEE MY OTHER POSTINGS FOR MORE ON THIS. IF YOU DO THE RESEARCH YOU WILL FIND THAT NO EXPERT WOULD AGREE THAT DOGS ARE EFFECTIVE ENOUGH TO BE USED TO DETERMINE THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY DO NOT HAVE ANY BUGS ONLY THAT THEY THEY WILL FIND SOME BUGS PARTICULARLY IF THE CONCENTRATION IS HIGH IN AN AREA. AND TO SAY A HOME IS CLEAR BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DOG HITS IS BLATANTLY UNTRUE. IN FACT I HAVE HAD ACTIONS DOGS HERE A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THEY DID NOT GET HITS IN AREAS WHERE WE WERE GETTING BITES. THEY DID GET HITS MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT THEY WILL DETECT BUGS BUT ACTION TAKES THE POSITION THAT WHEN THEY DON'T GET THE ALERTS THAT AN AREA CAN BE CONSIDERED CLEAR AND THEY MAY NOT RETREAT AN AREA WHICH DIDN'T GET A DOG HIT. FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE I SAY THAT THAT IS PLAIN HORSE$%#@. THE DOGS DON'T FIND THEM ALL, PERIOD. LET ME REPEAT THAT. THE DOGS DON'T FIND THEM ALL AND IN THE CASE OF BEDBUGS NOT GETTING THEM ALL MEANS THEY COME BACK. I JUST INSPECTED A SOFA CONVERTIBLE SLEEPER WHICH HAS NOT GOTTEN A HIT BY ACTIONS DOG REX FOR A WHILE AND FOUND BEDBUG CASINGS IN SOME OF THE SEAMS. I SLEPT THERE TWO NIGHTS AGO AND GOT BITES. USING DOGS MAY BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO CONSERVE RESOURCES AND LABOR FOR AN EXTERMINATOR BUT IT'S A MISUSE OF THE DOG TO SAY THAT WHERE THERE ISN'T A DOG ALERT TREATMENT ISN'T NECESSARY. ANYONE THAT WANTS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES CAN FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME.
Reply
You must log in to post.
