SINGAPORE – 21 November 2007 - ORIGIN Exterminators Pte. Ltd. (ORIGIN), a leading pest management company in Singapore, today announced its latest Termite Detection Specialist – Pippa. A native of Brisbane, Australia, Pippa is Singapore's first termite detection dog. She can detect termites with greater accuracy, speed and cost savings than other current termite detection methods. She detects termites at a rate of more than 98 percent accuracy and is ideal for jobs at venues with security clearance concerns.
At present, thermal imagers and acoustic or microwave emitting devices are commonly used to detect termite infestations. However, these current detection methods do not directly target termites. Instead, thermal imagers are used to detect temperature variations to pinpoint the moist and humid conditions that are conducive for termites, while acoustic devices detect the vibrations caused by termites.
In contrast, Pippa will walk through a property and pick up the scent of the termites. Pippa will home in on the area of infestation and give her handler a positive signal that she has detected active termites in the building by sitting down at the point of termite activity. Once she does this, her handler will confirm that the identified point of termite activity is accurate, and reward Pippa with a treat.
“With dogs, detection of termites will not be marred by human error. A termite detection dog will provide a clear indicator if there is a termite problem present on a property. The dog is trained to detect the termites through its highly accurate sense of smell – if there's a termite problem either indoors or outdoors, Pippa will find it,” said Mandy Mah, ORIGIN Termite Baiting System Executive, ORIGIN Exterminators Pte. Ltd.
A dog's sense of smell is highly sensitive, about 10,000 to 100,000 times better than humans, because its scent organ is about four times larger than a human's. Termite detection dogs are trained the same way as Police and Customs dogs, except that they are taught to detect the scent of termites. These termite detection dogs undergo months of intensive training with specialists before being put into service. This thorough training makes these animals the most efficient and effective termite detection tool available.
For every termite inspection job that Pippa performs, ORIGIN intends to donate S$10 to the Singapore Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) - S$5 will be donated from its customer's payment and ORIGIN will match the S$5 [1]
Termites can weaken the foundations of buildings by tunnelling through their wooden structures, compromising their stability. For property developers/owners and building and estates managers, termite infestations are very much unwanted, because they disrupt work and can lead to structural damage. In some instances, this can even lead to electrical fires which is both costly to repair and potentially very dangerous.
In addition to providing customers with the most accurate termite detection method available, ORIGIN has also been offering its customers a five-year timber damage replacement warranty[2] worth S$100,000 to customers using its ORIGIN Termite Baiting System (OTBS) incorporating Exterra™. This warranty provides residential, commercial and industrial property developers who sign up for OTBS with a cash guarantee against potential termite damage to fixed wooden fittings during their contract period with ORIGIN.
For more information on Pippa – ORIGIN's termite inspection dog, please visit www.origin.com.sg/solutions/services/termites/detectiondogs/pippa
About ORIGIN Exterminators Pte Ltd
A proudly home-grown Singapore company, ORIGIN Exterminators believes that any pest control concern can be solved through good science. The company blends the latest information from disciplines as diverse as entomology and environment science with information technology to provide total pest management solutions for more than 2,000 clients in Singapore and the region, covering hotels, condominiums, residences, clubs, schools as well as parks and government premises. The company's consultancy and research business also provides tailored environment management solutions for corporations, resorts and governments in countries such as Indonesia, the Maldives and Mauritius. For more information, visit ORIGIN's website at http://www.origin.com.sg.
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Media Contact:
Gregory Street
Communications Manager
ORIGIN Exterminators Pte Ltd
+65 6280 5666
gregory@origin.com.sg
Melanie Shum
Consultant
Hill & Knowlton
+65 6390 3329
mshum@hillandknowlton.com.sg
