FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:




K-9 Belle Is Newest Member of North Carolina Project Lifesaver



NORTH CAROLINA (HQ in King, NC) -- North Carolina Project Lifesaver is proud to announce its newest member to the team, K-9 Belle, a highly specialized  sniffer dog to be used in the fight against the latest outbreak of bed bugs now spreading throughout North Carolina.   


“Man’s best friend” has been used by law enforcement in the detection of bombs, drugs, the fight against terrorism and now the new battle facing many areas of North Carolina, bed bug infestations.  These dogs, known to the dog training communities as “sniffer” dogs are proven to be the most
accurate, fast and flexible tools to accomplish their designated tasks.  Belle has joined with NCPL to provide her handlers with the newest proven tool to the fight against bed bugs, her nose.  


Charles E. Trefzger, owner of Meridian Senior Living of Hickory, NC, has made all of this possible by donating the funds to purchase Belle for NCPL.  His company manages and operates adult care homes and memory care communities. Mr. Trefzger is a member of the North Carolina Association
of Long Term Care Facilities (NCALTCF) and has worked closely with NCPL for a number of years.  Due to his longstanding relationship with NCPL, Mr. Trefzger is familiar with NCPL’s extensive knowledge and experience in canine handling and training.  Mr. Trefzger also understands firsthand the
growing need for a bed bug dog to ensure the safety and well being of assisted living and memory care residents.  Now, Mr. Trefzger is participating in cutting edge technology to improve the standards for
assisted living facilities statewide.  Belle will be used in assisted living facilities across the state to ensure proper safety and ensure the wellbeing for the elderly of North Carolina.


Belle comes to NCPL from the Florida Canine Academy, under the leadership of Certified Master Trainer Bill Whitstine.  With over 21 years of canine training experience Bill worked hand-in-hand with Belle and her handler Lt. Mike Cartner (NCPL).  Belle and Lt. Cartner have completed over 660 hours in bed bug specific training. Chief Greg Pratt and Lt. Mike Cartner of NCPL have been certified with Florida Canine Academy in Canine and Handler Training in Bed Bug Detection.  The use of “sniffer” dogs to detect bed bugs has been found to be the quickest and most cost effective way to indicate bed bug infestations.


Bed bugs are small and very hard to detect as they find “hiding spots” which are not noticeable, without actively looking for these pests.  The most common hiding places are in bedroom furniture, couches, walls, and they have even been found in torn wallpaper.  Bed bugs are also known for traveling home with individuals from vacations or hotel stays by “hitching a ride” in suitcases.  Bed bug adults are reddish-brown, flat and oval shaped before feeding.  They are known to feed at night and hide during the day.  A female bed bug can lay 200-500 eggs in the cycle of 3-15 days.  


Belle and Lt. Cartner have joined up to take on the bed bug issues of North Carolina.  North Carolina Project Lifesaver is proud to be part of this advance in canine training and bed bug detection.   


For additional comments and interviews, please contact Chief Greg Pratt, North Carolina Project Lifesaver (336)971-3165 or ncplchief@gmail.com

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North Carolina Project Lifesaver Specialized Team, Inc (NCPL) assists individuals in North Carolina but specializes in care for the elderly and special needs children. NCPL covers the whole state of North Carolina in conjunction with our Counties-Helping-Counties Task Force with local law enforcement.