Queen Camilla has remarked that Clarence House is rapidly becoming a "second home" for cancer-detecting canines, following a morning visit from two specially trained dogs. On Tuesday, the Queen descended the stairs of the royal residence to greet golden Labrador Jodie and fox red Labrador Florin, who were waiting in the hallway.
Canine Cancer Detection in Action
Florin, aged 11, is trained to detect prostate cancer, while nine-year-old Jodie specialises in identifying bowel cancer. The Queen, who has been patron of the Medical Detection Dogs charity since 2014, watched with a smile as Jodie demonstrated her ability by correctly identifying the disease among four urine samples.
After the demonstration and speeches, Camilla expressed a desire for the dogs to return soon, stating: "I think it's becoming a second home for the dogs. We've had so many people here, and a lot of sceptical people who come and have gone away transformed."
Acknowledging lingering scepticism about the medical use of canines, she added: "We'll just have to bring more people back here… and more dogs."
Assistance for Hidden Disabilities
The Queen also met Wolfie, a six-year-old black Labrador trained to alert his owner, Lucy Burls, before a spike in symptoms of her Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS). Ms Burls, 39, explained that Wolfie typically alerts her by making eye contact, but if her condition worsens, he rests his head on her lap.
Ms Burls shared with the Press Association that Camilla was surprised to learn Wolfie can accompany her on planes and even speedboats during holidays. The dog particularly enjoys riding on double-decker buses, she added.
