New Four-Legged Arson Investigator Introduced to North GA

DALTON, GA (WDEF) – We all know dogs have a keen sense of smell, but can your dog detect a drop, just one drop of accelerant?

Ralph Hudgens, the Georgia Insurance Commissioner, says, "If she finds evidence of an accelerant, she’ll just sit down."

Jerry Parrish, with the state fire marshal’s office, adds, "There are times where we can go in and smell gas, but there’s just so much that we’re not sure where it’s it. She can tell you real quick where it is."

Ava, 3, isn’t referred to as a labrador anymore, she’s referred to as an arson investigator.

Gary Baggett, Deputy Chief at the Dalton Fire Department, says, "It’s perfect for identifying those areas where we need to take samples and have those looked at by a lab and that helps us in our case."

Parrish went through 200 hours of training with Ava.

At the end of the course, a chemist certified her.

The $25,000 bill was paid for by State Farm Insurance.

Dan Combs, with State Farm Insurance, says, "This is an opportunity for State Farm to help with the savings of billions of dollars that are lost annually in arson cases."

Ava is only one of two dogs in the state which can do this.

Fire officials say it’s indescribable how much time and money this nose will save when it comes to arson investigations.

We’re told Ava will be recertified every year.

She’ll be used not only in Dalton, but all over North Georgia.