Black Diamond pups earn bed bug inspector certification

If you think raising five puppies is difficult, try training them all to be bed bug certified working K9s.

Paula Lomax and one of the pups in training just months after birth. PHOTO: BLACK DIAMOND PEST CONTROL

That’s just what Paula Lomax, tactical K9 operations supervisor at Black Diamond Pest Control in southern Indiana, accomplished.

Lomax’s pupils accompanied her to on offsite location to test for their North American Canine Pest Inspectors (NACPI) certification. All five puppies passed.

According to NACPI certification standards, evaluators observe and document the testing canine for willingness to work, interest, accuracy and overall behavior. Evaluators also observe and document the handler for ability to properly work and interpret their canine, ability to perform a thorough search, as well as overall control of the canine.

“We’re very proud of Paula and our K9 team,” says CEO Keith Duncan Jr. “What other person or company can boast that they have not only successfully trained but have certified five one-year-olds at the same time? This is a huge accomplishment that shows just how committed Black Diamond is to offering outstanding service to our community.”

The puppies, who just turned one and have been trained by Lomax in Black Diamond’s K9 Academy almost since birth, will join the Black Diamond K9 team in southern Indiana, which will then have nine certified K9s.

“I’m not only proud of their passion and drive to find bed bugs but also of their environmental and social confidence,” says Lomax. “We spared no expense over the past 13 months to ensure these five pups had the best (and most fun) start in life.”

For Black Diamond, the K9 bed bug detection team is a valuable investment.

“K9s are faster at searching large areas, and they are more efficient,” says Lomax. “They’re capable of smelling even a single viable egg or live bug that is hiding somewhere a human can’t see.”

Black Diamond Pest Control is a full-service pest control company serving parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. In addition to general pest control, the company has full-time teams devoted to K9 bed bug detection, termite and moisture damage repairs, mold remediation, water damage restoration, turf maintenance and complete landscaping services.

From left are Brinley, Sammie, Sarge, Maverick and Rowdy. All five one-year-olds received certification. PHOTO: BLACK DIAMOND PEST CONTROL