Braman canine scent detection team certified for bed bugs

Date: 8/14/2013

AGAWAM – Braman Termite and Pest Elimination, a leading provider of pest management services in southern New England since 1890, recently announced that their canine scent detection team has been trained to the standard required by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and has now been officially certified by the Integrated Bed Bug Management Association (IBBMA).

Bugsy Braman, the bed bug beagle, along with his handler, Donna Evans, form a dynamic team fighting the alarming resurgence of bed bug infestations over the last decade.

“Dogs have been trained to detect a variety of things from drugs to cancer,” Jerry Lazarus, third-generation owner of Braman, said. “Bugsy is incredibly accurate and reliable, with the ability to identify an infestation even if only one live bed bug is present.”

Canine scent detection has gained significant traction within the pest management industry. Specially trained bed bug scent detection teams, a dog and its handler, are particularly useful when bed bugs are suspected but no live bugs or eggs can be identified visually. Additionally, Bugsy and his handler conduct building-wide proactive preventive searches in larger facilities such as multi-family dwellings, hospitals and offices. They can also confirm that bed bugs have been successfully eliminated in a previously infested location.

“Third party certification adds another layer of credibility to Bugsy’s already favorable reputation for bed bug identification,” Lazarus said. “Bugsy can differentiate live bed bugs and eggs from other odors in any environment including homes, offices, dormitories, vehicles, a movie theatre or any other business establishment.”

The NPMA is a nonprofit organization, established in 1933, to support the pest management industry. They strive to protect public health, food and property from nuisance pests.

The IBBMA was formed in a direct response to the NPMA’s publication regarding best practices for bed bugs. They are an independent third-party testing organization that provides canine certifications for the pest control industry.

Braman, which has five service centers serving southern New England and eastern New York, takes an integrated approach to pest elimination that includes both nonchemical treatments and state-of-the-art chemical methods that are safe for people, pets, and plants.

Over the years they have developed a reputation for identifying and eliminating pests for residential and commercial customers in all types of environments, including the hospitality, housing, healthcare, educational and food related industries ranging from manufacturing to retail.

The company is also known for its exceptional customer service, which earned it a 2012 Super Service Award from Angie’s List.

More information can be found at www.BramanPest.com.