A rescue puppy born at the world-famous Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is embarking on an extraordinary life-saving career, set to become one of the few dogs globally capable of sniffing out a deadly lung infection.
From Battersea to Bio Detection
Chilli, who entered the world under Battersea's care, has successfully passed all his assessments and will soon begin official training with the charity Medical Detection Dogs (MDD). His mission is to learn to identify the odour of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa), a potentially fatal lung infection that poses a serious threat to people with conditions like cystic fibrosis.
The remarkable journey began when Battersea contacted MDD about a litter of puppies. From the start, Chilli displayed a confident and strong-willed character, coupled with an exceptional love for using his nose. This prompted an initial assessment by MDD's Dog Supply Team, who quickly identified his potential as a Bio Detection Dog.
A Nose for Science and Saving Lives
Over the past year, Chilli has thrived in MDD's puppy programme, living with volunteer socialisers to build his confidence and curiosity. He has consistently excelled in early scent work, bonding with trainers and using his nose at every opportunity. His recent final assessment success paves the way for him to join a specialised team.
The impact of his future work could be profound. A landmark 2019 scientific study involving Medical Detection Dogs, Imperial College London, and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust proved that Bio Detection Dogs can identify Pa in samples with a sensitivity of 94.2% and a specificity of 98.5%. Chilli's training aims to contribute to faster, more accurate, and non-invasive diagnoses for patients.
"He Is Full of Personality and Confidence"
Chris Allen, Head of Puppy Supply and Training at Medical Detection Dogs, expressed delight at officially welcoming Chilli to the team. "He is full of personality, confidence and loves to use his nose which are all attributes we look for," Allen said. "He needs to be assertive enough to tell us when he has found his target odour... Chilli’s journey is a special one."
Battersea staff said they always believed Chilli was destined for greatness. A spokesperson noted, "While we believe that every dog and cat in our care is special, even as a tiny pup we knew that Chilli had something extra special about him."
The collaboration was also praised by Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, whose players' funding helped make Chilli's new path possible. "It is amazing that funding... has helped make outcomes like this possible, transforming lives for both people and animals," she said.
Medical Detection Dogs trains canines to detect the odour of human diseases like cancer and Parkinson's, and also provides Medical Alert Assistance Dogs for conditions such as Type 1 diabetes. The charity relies entirely on public donations and receives no government funding.
