At Aegis Environmental, we have used a dog’s super sense of smell for environmental applications, specifically for detecting petroleum contamination. Like dogs trained to locate chemical traces of accelerants for arson investigations, our scent dog, Piper, was trained to detect petroleum products, including crude oil, diesel fuel, and gasoline. It is estimated that dogs can detect scents 40 feet underground. When petroleum is found in multiple locations, Piper pinpointed the area with the highest petroleum concentration.
Piper The Scent Specialist
During fieldwork, Piper’s handler aided her towards success in multiple ways. This included utilizing all known information about the site and the suspected contaminants. Piper’s handler drew upon his experience to develop a search plan, giving Piper the best opportunity to locate suspect odors. When, or if, anything of interest is found, the area is marked, and the appropriate professionals will take over. Dogs can detect trace amounts of materials that would be almost impossible to detect using other means. Piper was a valuable, unique asset, trained to help site investigators locate contaminated areas. Ultimately, it was the investigator’s responsibility to ensure that the information from Piper’s search was valid and used meaningfully.
When Piper was on a job site, our goal was to identify the source of contamination quickly, potentially saving our clients time and money.
FAQs About Piper The Scent Specialist (Scent Dog)
Is Piper really a scent dog or simply an office pet?
Piper fulfilled both roles at Aegis. She spent most afternoons in our Greenwood office, relaxing and visiting our team members in their offices. She was a well-trained scent dog.
What kind of dog is Piper?
Piper was an English Cream Retriever, a breed very similar to Golden Retrievers. The most obvious difference between a Golden and an English Cream Retriever is their coat color; English Cream Retrievers are generally lighter than Golden Retrievers.
What is she trained to find?
Piper was trained to find petroleum contamination. Piper could detect traces of petroleum such as crude oil, diesel fuel, and gasoline.
What happens when petroleum is in multiple locations on the property?
When petroleum was present at multiple locations, Piper could pinpoint the location with the highest petroleum concentration. Piper would “paw” the area where she detected petroleum to communicate her findings with her handler.
Piper passed away on December 21, 2025. She will always be remembered for her sweet, endearing disposition, high degree of training and capabilities, and her loyalty and devotion to Bruce, fulfilling her role as man’s best friend til the end. She will be a team member in our hearts forever.
