Assured Environments' Bed Bug Scent Detection Teams

Assured Environments employs one of the only full-time Master Trainers for Bed Bug Scent Detecting Dogs in the industry. Sue Lavoie, a 30-year veteran in the scent detection industry, oversees all of our canine training and team discipline.

Our bed bug scent-detecting dogs are trained with the following approach:

All of our canines are certified according to National Pest Management Association standards
Our canines are only trained with positive reinforcement
Our canines are consistently trained using live bed bugs
All of our K9s enjoy working – and we will always keep it that way
Our training programs involve a 12-week training course and constant reinforcement

Take a moment to meet our Scent Detection Dog Handlers and their K9s:

Sue Lavoie and Dawn

Sue Lavoie is Assured Environments’ K9 Master Trainer. Sue has served as one of the few in-house Master Trainers in the pest control industry since March 2009, although her passion for K9 scent detection began much earlier. Having started her dog training career in 1981, Sue became involved in the scent detection field in 1985 and has since become a Master Trainer in the search and rescue K9 detection discipline. Currently, Sue is responsible for the training of Assured’s bed bug dogs and the assignments of our K9 handler teams.

Until May of 2011, Sue had been working with her beloved 4 year-old German Shepherd, Summer. However, Summer has since retired and Sue is now training and working with our youngest K9, a 2 year-old black lab, Dawn. Dawn is certified in accordance with NPMA standards and loves her new job.

Sue has been invited to speak at various National Pest Management Association sponsored events and National Search and Rescue Conferences, appeared on several television shows, and has been featured in many books and publications. Sue is a member of New Jersey Search and Rescue, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors.

Bill Quinn and Mandy

William Quinn Bed Bug Dog Handler Bill and Mandy has been working as an Assured Environments’ canine handler since July 2009. Bill has been a professional dog trainer in the NYC animal shelter system for the last 4 years responsible for the rehab and adoption of over 1,000 homeless canines in NYC. Bill is a certified wildlife rehabilitator and veterinary technician and was the kennel master for the 2 largest animal welfare programs in the US.

Bill works with a 3 year-old Beagle named Mandy who has been working for Assured for 2 years ever since she was rescued from an animal shelter. She was then trained by our own handlers in the detection unit.

David Machette and Bugsy

David Machette Bed Bug Dog Handler Dave and Bugsy is a dog handler for Assured Environments Canine Scent Detection unit. He has been working with Assured Environments since November 2010. Dave was originally a detective at the Essex County Sherriff’s Office for 26 years, 24 of which Dave worked in the K9 unit overseeing various K9 teams trained for narcotics, arson, explosives, search and rescue, building search and cadaver detection. Dave retired as the Master Trainer for the Essex County Sherriff’s Office K9 unit before he joined Assured Environments. Dave is a certified NJ State Police K9 Master Trainer and a certified NJ Police Academy Instructor, having trained and certified over 200 law enforcement K9 teams.

Dave works with our 4 year-old Beagle named Bugsy, who loves to play with Dave’s retired police K9, Blaze, and his 2 year old daughter, Nicole.

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