Dogs are considered “man’s best friend,” but Indy, a one-year-old black Labrador Retriever, had doubts that he would ever find his fur-ever purpose. The canine was quickly returned to his Colorado breeder after his original owners couldn’t make the commitment required for an active working breed, like Indy. Luckily, at the same time, Zaneta Kuzel, a female entrepreneur in Hobe Sound, Florida, was seeking a black lab for her new business venture- a canine mold detection company. The two met, and Mold Hunt, LLC was formed in March 2025. The innovative company uses Indy’s talents to detect mold more effectively and affordably in homes, businesses, boats, and cars throughout Southeastern Florida.
“Black labs are notorious for their keen sense of smell and calm temperament, and that’s exactly how we found Indy – full of potential and waiting for his right purpose and home,” said Zaneta Kuzel, founder and owner of Mold Hunt, LLC. [2] “Indy is energetic and focused about his work, passionate around people and always eager to earn treats for a job well done.”
A Personal Health Crisis Sparks a Mission
Kuzel’s impetus for creating the new business stems from her own personal health crisis with mold in 2024. After having a full home inspection before purchasing her 30-year-old house in Hobe Sound, FL, Kuzel was excited to start her new life. Within two weeks of moving in, Kuzel began to notice difficulty breathing and frequent coughing. As her condition worsened, she went to the ER, where she was diagnosed with pneumonia, which lasted a month. She discovered that hidden mold was lurking behind the walls in every room of her house.
“Being this sick was shocking since I have a healthy, organic lifestyle and took all of the necessary precautions by getting a proper home inspection,” said Kuzel. “I realized how invisible and dangerous mold can be and knew that there had to be a better way to detect it and help others avoid what I went through.”
During her recovery, Kuzel discovered that dogs could be trained to detect mold, and in Europe, dogs have been used for this purpose for over twenty years. After researching canine services in America, the idea stuck to bring this revolutionary offering to Southeastern Florida.
“When we met Indy, everything aligned: his unique capabilities, my personal experience, and our underlying mission to keep people healthy, especially in our moist, humid tropical climate.”
Sniffing Out Trouble: How Canine Mold Detection Works
Kuzel explains that Indy was rigorously trained and successfully completed an intensive, three-month mold detection certification program through the renowned Florida Training Academy, which taught him how to sniff out all forms of mold, including Aspergillis (blue-green), Cladosporium (olive green) and the toxic Stachybotrys (black mold), and provide visual cues to let Kuzel know the exact location of the infestation. He is one of only a handful of highly specialized mold dogs in the U.S.
The Mold Hunt detection process lasts approximately one hour and consists of a thorough walkthrough of the property, both inside and outside. Kuzel then gathers information about the client’s potential mold-related issues, noting any health changes in different rooms. Indy is then brought into the house to lead the inspection, sniffing out mold behind walls, in air ducts, under floors, and other areas invisible to the human eye. When mold is detected, Indy alerts Kuzel by sitting down and pointing to the exact source of mold with his nose. Once the alert is confirmed, he receives a food reward and praise. The entire process is quick and more than 90% accurate.
Other benefits of canine mold detection include:
Non-Destructive: Unlike traditional methods that may require drilling or removing parts of one’s property, dogs find mold without any invasive techniques, preserving the integrity of a person’s home, business, car or boat.
Cost-Savings: By targeting only those specific areas affected by the mold, unnecessary and costly repairs are prevented. Precise detection means spending less on invasive testing and remediation. For schools, hotels, commercial and government buildings, the affordability factor is very substantial.
Experienced Professionals: The unique combination of highly trained dogs with expert handlers who have a deep knowledge of mold issues, offers the most comprehensive screening possible.
Health-Focused: Mold can seriously affect one’s health, causing headaches, tightening in the chest, burning sensations in the airways, wheezing, sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, fever, nose bleeds, skin irritation, sinusitis, shingles, streptococcus and pneumonia, among many other illnesses. Mold Hunt helps catch mold problems early, ensuring a safer and healthier environment for individuals, families and companies.
“It’s important to note that mold is not harmful to dogs since they do not inhale the dangerous particles like humans can,” adds Kuzel.
“Their noses are truly cutting-edge technology!”
Beyond the Nose: What’s Next for Mold Hunt?
Indy typically conducts up to four mold detections per day with ongoing training by Kuzel. When off-duty, he enjoys swimming, playing fetch at the beach, and napping in his favorite spot at home. He’s not just a working dog, but also a cherished family member.
Parties interested in the service can visit www.moldhunt.com or call 858-MOLD-DOG.
“We’re so excited to showcase Indy’s special training and talents to help Southern Floridians stay safe from mold,” concludes Kuzel.
“We’re planning to expand our detection team with additional trained dogs and handlers to offer service throughout the entire state and eventually create educational workshops to help homeowners truly understand the health risks associated with mold.”
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