NYC's New Bedbug-Sniffing Dogs Start Work

New York City has enlisted a couple of hard-bitten enforcers.

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development says beagles Mickey and Nemo started work this week. Their mission: to sniff out bedbugs.

According to the Wall Street Journal, three landlords got violation notices on the dogs' first day on the job.

New York follows city agencies in Seattle and Milwaukee in purchasing bedbug-detecting dogs.

It costs $69,000 to buy and train the dogs, and to take care of them for the first year. Most of that's covered by the City Council.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn says all New Yorkers, regardless of their income, can now receive "the best bedbug attention money can buy."

Inspection requests can be made through the city's 311 help line.