Today we’d like to introduce you to Daria Austin.
Hi Daria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The Mold Mutts was born from something deeply personal.
I have always believed that true health comes from addressing the root cause of a problem—not just treating symptoms and hoping they go away. That belief shaped how I live, how I think, and eventually, how I built this business. But it wasn’t until mold entered my own home that everything truly clicked.
When I discovered mold in my personal space, I did what I’ve always done: I started researching. What I learned about mold toxicity stopped me in my tracks. Many of the symptoms I was reading about were things I had personally experienced. For the first time, separate pieces of my life—my health journey and my passion for working dogs—came together in a way that made undeniable sense.
I have always had a deep respect for dogs and their capabilities, especially when it comes to scent work. Dogs experience the world through their noses, and when trained correctly, their ability to detect what humans cannot is extraordinary. As I learned more about mold detection, it became clear that canine inspections could provide fast, non-invasive, and highly accurate answers—something I knew people desperately needed.
I didn’t want to create just another service. I wanted to build something honest, intentional, and rooted in education. Training was never rushed or generic. I committed to learning from a wide range of professionals in the K9 world, studying detection work in depth, and building teams that could perform reliably in real homes with real concerns. Each dog is selected for strong genetics, drive, and temperament, then trained to love the work as much as they excel at it.
What started as a deeply personal mission quickly grew into something larger. I began helping others who were living with uncertainty—people dealing with unexplained symptoms, past water damage, or unanswered questions about their homes. Education became just as important as detection. I believe clients deserve to understand what mold is, why it matters, and what the results actually mean.
Based in Utah, The Mold Mutts has grown through transparency, consistency, and an unwavering respect for the dogs that make this work possible. Our dogs are not tools—they are partners. Their enthusiasm, accuracy, and integrity in the field reflect the standards I hold for this company.
Today, The Mold Mutts exists to advocate for the seriousness of mold, protect health and safety, and provide clear answers when people need them most. This business is the result of lived experience, hard-earned knowledge, and a belief I stand by fully: when you combine education, integrity, and an exceptional dog, you can change lives—starting at the source of the problem.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No—this road has been anything but smooth. Building The Mold Mutts has required persistence, resilience, and a willingness to stand firm in my values, even when it would have been easier not to.
One of the earliest struggles I faced was underestimating my own dog—and the truly incredible work he was capable of. Early on, I had to unlearn what I thought I knew and fully trust his nose, his training, and his consistency. Watching him locate issues that humans, tools, and even professionals missed was humbling. Learning to step back, listen, and advocate for what he was showing me became a pivotal part of my growth and the foundation of how seriously I approach this work today.
Another ongoing challenge has been the widespread lack of information about mold itself. Many people are unaware not only of the serious health implications mold can have, but also the damage it causes to the integrity of structures over time. When the problem isn’t visible, it’s often dismissed. This lack of education makes it difficult to convey the true value of what we do, even when the need is very real. A large part of my work has become advocacy—helping people understand why mold matters before they can understand how to address it.
A major hurdle has also been the general unawareness that a non-invasive, highly reliable option for mold detection even exists. Mold dogs are still unfamiliar to many homeowners and professionals, despite their proven effectiveness. Introducing a method that challenges the status quo requires patience, credibility, and constant education. It means explaining not just the what, but the why—over and over again.
I’ve also had to navigate industries where integrity is not always prioritized. In both the mold and K9 worlds, I’ve encountered companies more focused on profit than on the seriousness and responsibility this work demands. That has been one of the most difficult realities to face. Mold detection is not a place for shortcuts, exaggeration, or fear-based sales tactics. Holding the line on ethics—even when it slows growth—has been a conscious and sometimes costly decision, but one I will never compromise.
And finally, there is the challenge of being a woman in two male-dominated fields. Both the mold industry and the K9 detection world come with barriers that aren’t always visible but are deeply felt. Being heard, taken seriously, or given access to the right conversations has often required more persistence than it should. I’ve had to work harder to prove credibility, knowledge, and leadership—not because of a lack of skill, but because of long-standing biases.
Despite all of this, these challenges have shaped The Mold Mutts into what it is today. They’ve sharpened my commitment to education, integrity, and excellence. Every obstacle has reinforced why this work matters and why it must be done the right way.
The road hasn’t been easy—but it has been worth it. And every wall I’ve encountered has only strengthened my resolve to continue advocating for better standards, better information, and better outcomes for people and their homes.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Third-Party Certified for Integrity and Accuracy
Our K9 teams are certified by the American Working Dog Association (AWDA), an independent third-party organization. This means our dogs and handlers are tested and verified by an unbiased evaluator—not by their trainer or in-house staff. Third-party certification removes conflicts of interest, ensures consistency, and confirms that our teams meet the highest industry standards.
At The Mold Mutts, we specialize in professional mold canine inspections—using highly trained detection dogs to locate hidden mold quickly, accurately, and non-invasively. Our work focuses on identifying mold odor signatures within homes and buildings so clients can make informed decisions without unnecessary demolition, guesswork, or fear-based recommendations.
What we do goes far beyond simply saying whether mold may be present. We help people understand where mold is likely located, why it matters, and what responsible next steps look like. Our services are designed to support homeowners, renters, real estate professionals, and remediation teams by providing clear, actionable information rooted in integrity and education.
We specialize in situations where uncertainty exists—past water damage, unexplained health concerns, real estate transactions, or homes where traditional testing has left more questions than answers. Mold dogs excel in these environments, and our teams are trained to work methodically, calmly, and reliably in real-world conditions.
What we are most known for is our commitment to ethical standards and transparency. We do not sell remediation, and we do not benefit from inflated results. Our only goal is accurate detection and honest reporting. That separation is intentional and foundational to the trust we build with our clients.
What I am most proud of is the quality of our dog-and-handler teams. Each dog is carefully selected for genetics, drive, and temperament, then trained extensively to love the work they do. Ongoing training, accountability, and continual improvement are non-negotiable. Our dogs are enthusiastic, precise, and consistent—and that consistency changes lives.
What truly sets The Mold Mutts apart is the intersection of lived experience, education, advocacy, and verified standards. This business was built not just from training manuals, but from personal experience with mold exposure and a deep belief that people deserve better answers. We approach every inspection with respect—for the home, the client, and the seriousness of mold as a health and structural concern.
We are not here to scare people. We are here to inform, empower, and protect. That philosophy guides every inspection, every conversation, and every standard we uphold.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I see the mold detection industry undergoing significant shifts, with both opportunities and responsibilities. One of the biggest changes will be a wider recognition of the true impact mold has—not just on health, but also on the structural integrity of homes and buildings. As more research emerges and awareness grows, I expect homeowners, real estate professionals, and even insurers to demand more thorough, reliable, and non-invasive detection methods.
We are also likely to see a boom in mold dog teams. Canine detection offers unmatched speed, accuracy, and non-invasive inspection compared to traditional testing methods. As the effectiveness of this approach becomes more widely understood, more trained teams will enter the field, and certification and standardization will become increasingly important to maintain credibility and consistency across the industry.
With these changes, education and advocacy will continue to be a major part of the work. The industry will need to balance growth with ethics—ensuring that new teams maintain integrity, properly train their dogs, and prioritize accurate reporting over profit. I also anticipate technological integration to support canine work, like enhanced tracking, documentation, and data collection, which will further professionalize and elevate the field.
Ultimately, the next decade should bring a more informed public, higher standards for inspection teams, and greater collaboration between health, real estate, and building professionals—all guided by the understanding that early and accurate detection protects both people and properties.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.themoldmutts.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themoldmutts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AgoDuBr37/?mibextid=wwXIfr
