Ollie, a dog trained to sniff out the problem, is helping tackle what some health experts have called an epidemic, 10TV's AJ Smith reported.
A little more than a year ago, Jason Montgomery and his Beagle, Ollie, started Buckeye Bed Bug Detection.
When he is not seeking out the pests in people's homes, hotels or movie theaters, Ollie is training in Montgomery's living room.
"I was just kind of reading about how the bed bug population was going to turn into an epidemic (and) it seemed like something that would make sense to get into," Montgomery said. "Every day in order for Ollie to eat, he has to find bedbugs. He can't just walk up to his bowl and eat like most dogs can."
Montgomery said while people have a 30 to 40 percent chance of finding the bugs with a naked eye, Ollie is far more accurate.
SPECIAL SECTION: Health | SLIDESHOW: Images Of Bed Bugs
By narrowing down the area of the infestation, Ollie can help cut the bill for treatment.
Montgomery's new career came with some surprises, Smith reported.
Because Ollie needs live bedbugs to train, Montgomery has to feed them, using his own arm, protected by a mesh-covered vial.
"I didn't quite expect the fact that I would be having to take care of bedbugs and sort of keep them as pets in a sense by keeping them fed and alive for training purposes for Ollie," Montgomery said. "You get a little nervous trying to transfer them between containers and working with them. I definitely do not want to turn them loose in my house."
Ollie can also search locations after they are treated, to make sure they are free of bed bugs.
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More Information:
Previous Stories:
April 7, 2011:
Ohio Lawmakers Seek OK To Use Bedbug Pesticide
February 17, 2011:
Central Ohio Bed Bug Problem Getting Worse
September 13, 2010:
Grove City Motel Cited For Bed Bugs
August 23, 2010:
Northeast Side Hotel Battling Bed Bugs
June 15, 2010:
EPA Ruling Could Limit Pesticide Used To Fight Bed Bugs
February 22, 2010:
Bed Bug Infestations Rising, Affecting All Areas
