Nov 18 2009
Used throughout human history to locate everything from bombs and drugs to missing persons, canines are now being utilized to detect potentially lethal mold in homes, offices and classrooms.
1-800-GOT-MOLD?, America’s leading mold inspection company, is the nation’s first franchise operation to recruit Man’s best friend to pinpoint the location of hidden mold in buildings, preventing potential health dangers, which include fatigue, headaches, respiratory problems, and even cancer.
A dog’s sense of smell is at least 100 times more sensitive than a human’s, giving these animals a unique advantage over any other detection technique. Aptly named Mold DogsTM, these four-legged detectives can locate the source of hidden mold growth, even in its early stages.
1-800-GOT-MOLD? Founder Jason Earle realized that the traditional mold-detection process was lacking a precise and foolproof tool. While air sampling is commonly used by mold inspectors to detect household molds, it often fails to locate the source of the problem, which is the key factor in remediation. Common methods of mold detection involve a lot of guesswork, which is not only inaccurate, but expensive, destructive and time consuming. Mold Dogs save time and money and avoid unnecessary invasive procedures.
Having suffered from health complications due to household mold exposure in his childhood, Earle was determined to find an answer; after a bit of digging, Earle found his solution in Oreo, the first mold detection dog in the northeast and one of the first nationwide.
Oreo and her fellow Mold Dogs give 1-800-GOT-MOLD? the ability to thoroughly screen a building for hidden mold and moisture problems effectively, efficiently and perhaps most importantly, non-destructively. Once the source of mold is located, 1-800-GOT-MOLD? utilizes industry-standard laboratory testing to confirm their dogs’ findings. Infrared thermal imaging, laser particle analysis and other screening tools round out the 1-800-GOT-MOLD? Mold Assessment Protocol (MAP), the most comprehensive mold inspection process available.
“Our family had a nightmare mold problem and we had to move out of our house and live with my parents for a year,” says Jill Murray of Pennington, New Jersey, whose daughter Caitlin was suffering from respiratory problems at the time. At the urging of her doctor, Murray finally contacted 1-800-GOT-MOLD? for help.
“Jason and Oreo arrived like a knight in shining armor to confirm my suspicion and determine the solution,” adds Murray. “Oreo alerted on the sheetrock surrounding the fireplace and the carpet. Jason isolated a roof leak.”
After remediation, Murray says her daughter, who had been hospitalized at least a dozen times, has been 100% symptom-free for six years and counting.
“Modern construction methods and materials have made mold problems rampant, and traditional methods of mold detection can’t find the hidden mold growth. As a result, families are stuck with severe mold problems that worsen over time and can cause adverse health effects in the long run,” says Earle. “Our Mold Dogs have streamlined the process and help ensure that we catch what traditional methods can’t.”
Both customers and physicians alike have encouraged others to use the specially trained Mold DogsTM.
“We get constant referrals from past customers, and even from doctors,” continues Earle. “Physicians recognize that home environments can be an important part of the illness puzzle. Not to mention families just love to see our dogs in action!”
Source: http://www.1800gotmold.com/