Upon opening the trunk of her car, Claire Guest anticipated her three furry companions to hop out and begin their usual walk. Although two of her dogs took off, one of them, Daisy the labrador, remained inside, fixated on Claire and persistently nudging her chest. Initially dismissing Daisy’s behavior, Claire eventually decided to push the persistent pup out of the car. However, during their stroll, Claire felt the exact spot where Daisy had been nudging her…and there was a lump there. After visiting the doctor, it was confirmed that Claire had breast cancer – a fast-growing tumor that may have gone undetected if not for Daisy’s unusual behavior that day.
Meet Daisy, the life-saving labrador who detected her owner Claire’s cancer. Thanks to Daisy’s early detection, Claire was able to receive treatment and beat the disease. Back in 2008, the idea of dogs detecting illnesses was not widely accepted, but Daisy’s incredible ability helped change that perception. This event led Claire to co-found the Medical Detection Dogs charity, which aims to prove that diseases have a smell that dogs can identify. Daisy’s story is a true testament to the amazing bond between humans and animals.
Claire demonstrated the remarkable ability of dogs to detect diseases through the experience of Daisy detecting her cancer, providing convincing evidence to support this belief. With her background in psychology, Claire was able to present the scientific findings that dogs can indeed smell disease, reinforcing this with her personal story of how Daisy’s detection potentially saved her life. This unique combination of science and personal experience captured people’s attention and challenged them to reconsider the capabilities of dogs. Having witnessed a Dalmatian detect skin cancer while working at a previous charity, Claire’s belief in dogs’ ability to smell disease only grew stronger over the years. Collaborating with Dr. John Church, they founded MDD and successfully demonstrated that dogs could detect bladder cancer in humans, with Daisy playing a pivotal role in this breakthrough discovery. Their research expanded to show that dogs could detect a variety of diseases, leading the charity to launch programs training dogs to detect hypoglycemic attacks in Type 1 diabetes patients, which has since expanded to cover even more medical conditions.
Claire, seen here with her three adopted furry companions at the MDD training center in Buckinghamshire, co-founded the Medical Detection Dogs charity alongside Dr. John Church. The incredible sense of smell possessed by dogs is truly remarkable. While humans have about five million smell receptors in their noses, dogs have a whopping 350 million. This explains why they always seem to know the exact moment you open a bag of treats, no matter how quietly you try to do so. The charity has experienced significant growth over the years, with over 80 individuals in the UK now benefiting from having a Medical Alert Assistance dog provided by MDD. However, this level of support comes at a cost, with training and research expenses totaling around £2 million last year, all of which was raised through fundraising efforts. The People’s Postcode Lottery has played a vital role in supporting the charity, raising an impressive £1.7 million since 2018. Claire, who is now 59 years old, emphasizes the crucial role of this funding, particularly during the challenging times brought on by the post-Covid era. The financial support enables the organization to train Medical Alert Assistant Dogs for individuals living with various medical conditions such as PoTS, Addison’s disease, allergies, diabetes, and other endocrine disorders. These specially trained dogs can provide advanced warning of potential health flare-ups, allowing their owners to take necessary precautions or seek medical help promptly, thus reducing the need for hospital visits. Overall, the contributions from supporters like the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery are invaluable in helping the charity continue its lifesaving work and make a significant impact on the lives of those in need.
Thanks to the incredible support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Medical Detection Dogs has been able to receive a generous donation of £1.7 million since 2018. This funding has enabled the charity to make plans for the future and expand their services throughout the UK, eliminating the need for individuals to travel to their Milton Keynes base for aftercare. In addition to their important work, Medical Detection Dogs is also training Bio-Detection Dogs to detect diseases such as Parkinson’s early on by recognizing specific odors associated with the condition. They are also exploring the potential for early detection of prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and bacterial infections through scent recognition. This groundbreaking research offers hope for the development of new treatments, especially since many of these conditions are currently diagnosed at a late stage when treatment options are limited. The Bio-Detection Dogs programme has the potential to revolutionize diagnoses and outcomes, offering a brighter future for individuals facing health challenges they may never have imagined. Claire, a representative from the charity, emphasizes the impact that early detection can have on older individuals’ independence, especially in preventing falls that can lead to serious injuries and a loss of self-sufficiency. The work of Medical Detection Dogs is truly changing lives and providing crucial support to those in need.
Meet Florin, the next generation of medical detection dog who is the niece of the famous Daisy, a fox red labrador. Researchers have discovered that dogs like Florin can detect urinary tract infections caused by E.coli bacteria through scent. The hope is to train more dogs like Florin to detect early UTIs in vulnerable populations like the elderly in retirement homes, potentially saving lives and preventing unnecessary hospitalizations. The groundbreaking research has even caught the attention of Dr. Andreas Mershin of MIT in Boston, who is working on developing a sensor that can detect diseases through scent. This all stems from the incredible work that Daisy did in 2008 when she detected her owner Claire’s illness. Despite Daisy’s passing in 2018, her legacy lives on through the important work she was a part of. By participating in the People’s Postcode Lottery, you not only have the chance to win big prizes, but you also contribute to raising funds for charities. With a subscription of £12 a month, you are entered into every draw with prizes announced daily, including the chance to win £1 million in the Millionaire Street draw every Saturday. The excitement of winning big is appealing, but knowing that a significant portion of the ticket price goes towards supporting good causes is even more rewarding. Players have already raised over £1 billion for charities through the People’s Postcode Lottery. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to sign up and make a difference today.
Medical Detection Dogs is a charity registered in England and Wales (1124533) and Scotland (SC04443). Funding is provided by the Postcode Animal Trust, a Scottish charity (SC043837). By paying £12, you can enter all draws in advance each month. The potential maximum prize from the December draws is estimated to be £391,850. Winners will be announced daily from December 9, 2023, until January 5, 2024. Terms and conditions apply. People’s Postcode Lottery organizes lotteries for 20 charities, with each charity benefiting from a minimum of 33% of ticket sales. For more information on draw dates, participating charities, and prizes, visit the Prize Draw Calendar on www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes/draw-calendar. This lottery is not available in Northern Ireland. Postcode Lottery Limited is licensed by the Gambling Commission and is based in Guildford and Edinburgh.© 2023 Postcode Lottery Ltd.
