Phoenix Bed Bug Detection Dog Update – Trends for 2011

Phoenix, Arizona based Cimex K9 specializes in proactive early detection of bed bug infestations and provides post-treatment assurance that treatments were effective. We are approaching the two year anniversary of Cimex K9’s bed bug detection K9 services.  We have seen a consistent increase in bed bug activity throughout Arizona over the last two years.

At the end of the third quarter of 2011 we have found that the bed bug epidemic in Arizona has significantly increased from the prior year.  We are finding active colonies more often in public places which previously was a rarity.  It does not make a difference if the areas are low-income or high-income neighborhoods because to a bed bug the blood is all the same.  We speculate that due to the high cost of treatment sometimes lower income households are less likely to be treated effectively which may lead to the bed bug colonies migrating from one structure to another more often.

We at Cimex K9 are encouraged to see that more commercial establishments are taking a proactive approach to detect infestations prior to customer complaints.  We feel this is by far the most effective use of our service as it always pays for itself by protecting the establishment’s reputation along with a much more effective treatment due to early detection.

Should you see a bed bug inspection canine working at a public or commercial establishment you should feel grateful that the location is taking proactive precautions to protect you rather than thinking because they are using a bed bug sniffing canine that they must have a serious problem.  Bed bug detection dogs are normally used to find infestations before they get out of control as larger and more active colonies are easily detected without the use of a bed bug dog.

As the use of the bed bug detection dogs in Arizona becomes more mainstream they will be seen as a welcome sight rather than a reason to panic.  Until then we will maintain status quo by being as discrete as possible.

Should you have any questions or comments about the services we provide at Cimex K9 please feel free to contact us at 888-928-4364

-Keith A Coddington

Founder of Cimex K9, LLC

Arizona's Proactive Commercial Bedbug Inspections

By Keith Coddington

Unfortunately for our clients the bedbug epidemic appears only to be in its infancy. And although a silver bullet will take care of your typical vampire, a bed bug treatment is a bit more complicated to destroy these little nocturnal blood-suckers which means they are here to stay at least for now.

That being said the best option available to any commercial establishment at risk of infestation is routine proactive bedbug inspections.  The obvious goal is to avoid customer exposure by finding the infestation in its early stages and eliminate the problem before complaints and even lawsuits ensue.

That may sound easy enough however the problem is that detecting bedbug infestations during the early stages can be

extremely difficult and labor intensive.  To complete an extremely thorough inspection of a typical hotel room would require pulling all of the furniture apart and visually inspecting every spot a bedbug could wedge into.  This type of routine proactive approach is impractical in most commercial settings especially with a large number of rooms to search.

This is where the use of bedbug detection dogs is by far the best option.  A properly trained and certified search team can clear a typical room in a matter of minutes and do it more accurately. (see my other articles on how to research and hire a bedbug dog).

The biggest issue clients initially have when it comes to using the dogs is that they are worried about the perception from their customers that if dogs are seen then their customers will believe there is a bedbug problem at the location.

Here in Phoenix, AZ using bedbug detection dogs is a relatively new concept and anything new is always uncomfortable at first, but many other resort hot spots across the country proudly proclaim the fact they are keeping their guests as safe as possible by being proactive.  Bedbug Detection Teams should never tell the client's customers we are searching for bedbugs unless they give prior permission, but for the customers that do figure out what is going on it is always a been a positive reaction. By being one of the properties that values their customer's safety above everything else is always a good thing.

I realize proactive bedbug inspections in Arizona is a new thing however we are slowly but surely coming to the time when it will be something that is promoted rather than kept quiet.  Until then I will work with our clients to be as discreet as needed to get the job done.

For more information about Bed Bugs be sure to check out this great page on Bed Bugs from Texas A & M University.

Keith Coddington

Owner / Trainer / Handler

Cimex K9, LLC

Phoenix, AZ

888-928-4364