'He can track anything down': Meet Dash, one of Edmonton's bed-bug hunters
A six-year-old springer spaniel named Dash is integral to limiting the spread of bed bugs in Edmonton.
The energetic black-and-white dog is one of two that works with Orkin Canada Pest Control in Edmonton canvassing hotels, office buildings, warehouses and more for the blood-sucking insects.
"He can track anything down. In this case, it is bed bugs," Orkin service manager Ken Grey told CTV News Edmonton on Tuesday.
"If he knows that they're here, he'll find them."
That day, Dash and Orkin were scouting Find Edmonton, a second-hand store that provides furniture to people transitioning out of homelessness.
Since its inception, Find has used dogs to supplement the staff's daily checks to ensure items are clean of bugs.
Dash, a six-year-old springer spaniel that works at Orkin in Edmonton sniffing out bed bugs, is pictured at Find Edmonton on Oct. 22, 2024. (Matt Marshall / CTV News Edmonton)
"We know what risks there are working with second-hand furniture, so we just want to be proactive. It's really important to give peace of mind to our community. We just want everybody to be happy and safe, and especially when you're moving out of homelessness, there's already so many barriers that we don't want to be adding any pressure or stress," the organization's marketing coordinator, Janine Tremblay, said.
Additionally, a bed bug problem that required the store to shut down would be equivalent to "total devastation," Tremblay noted. So far, Find has not had such a problem.
Dash's work at Find over the past four years was described as a kind of search-and-destroy mission.
Both he and his counterpart, Heidi, are trained to sniff out bed bugs then signal to Orkin by sitting and pointing with their nose.
"When the dog jumps into that couch and you're tearing it apart to verify what exactly was there and you find that one baby, that one little bed bug down underneath that corner, it's such a joy to see the training working," Grey said.
"We're trying to find those few before somebody actually comes in, stays in the hotel or they take the piece of furniture they're buying home."
Dash, a six-year-old springer spaniel that works at Orkin in Edmonton sniffing out bed bugs, is pictured at Find Edmonton on Oct. 22, 2024. (Matt Marshall / CTV News Edmonton)
Across Canada, Orkin has 18 canine teams. The company says they employ a few breeds, including labs and beagles, but avoid those with smaller snouts because they're not as talented sniffers. They look for dogs that are good with people and enjoy working.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Matt Marshall and Matt Woodman
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Halifax police confirm body of Walmart employee was found in walk-in oven
Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.
Man charged after attempting to force his way into the House of Commons: police
On the tenth anniversary of the shooting on Parliament Hill, a man was arrested and charged with trespassing as he attempted to push past security guards into the House of Commons.
'We all got through it': Canadian family stuck in Cuba recalls ordeal amid massive blackout
Ellen Francis says she and her family were having a great time at one of Cuba's famously stunning beaches and exploring the popular tourist town of Varadero when the situation turned into something like a scary movie.
Former Conservative leader says Trudeau 'should move on' amid efforts to oust him
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'should move on,' as he faces growing inner-caucus turmoil.
Butter shoplifters strike again! Two more large-scale thefts reported in Guelph, Ont.
At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.
Are Listeria recalls on the rise or are we just hearing more about them?
Consumers in Canada are being told to check their freezers after hundreds of frozen waffle products were recalled for fears of a possible Listeria contamination. The voluntary recall was just the latest in a string of listeria-related recalls in North America.
One dead in multistate E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders, CDC says
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert Tuesday regarding an E. coli outbreak that it says is linked with McDonald's Quarter Pounders.
Minister suspends licences of 11 teachers at Montreal's Bedford school after allegations of mistreatment
Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.
PM Trudeau doesn't think his leadership is in danger, as ministers voice confidence in him a day before key Liberal meeting
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think his leadership is in danger, one day before a highly anticipated Liberal caucus meeting where his future at the helm of the Liberal party is expected to be up for discussion.