Dr Claire Guest and Kate Humble with Medical Detection Dog Florin.

Wildlife presenter becomes ambassador

Television presenter Kate Humble has become an ambassador for Medical Detection Dogs.

Best known for her wildlife programmes, Kate will now help to spread the word about the charity and the ways it helps to save thousands of lives.  

Speaking about her first visit to the Medical Detection Dogs centre earlier this year, Kate said that she was utterly 'blown away'.

"The work they are doing is extraordinary and, although of course it sounds cliché, truly life-changing," said Kate.  "I was delighted to be asked to be an ambassador for Medical Detection Dogs and had no hesitation in agreeing."

Medical Detection Dogs was set up in 2008 by animal behaviourist Dr Claire Guest and orthopaedic surgeon Dr John Church.

The charity uses the remarkable olfactory power of dogs to detect volatiles associated with human disease, including cancer from urine samples.

Medical Detection Dogs also trains dogs to assist individuals with long-term life threatening diseases such as brittle type one diabetes. Diabetic partners are alerted by their dogs to dangerous falls or rises in their sugar levels to allow them to take their medication before they suffer an attack.

Commenting on the appointment, Dr Guest said: " I could not be more delighted that Kate Humble has agreed to become an ambassador for us. Not only is she a highly respected wildlife expert, but she is also a much-love national figure and will be a huge asset to our charity."

Image (C) Medical Detection Dogs