OUR DOGS ARE LIFE SAVERS:
THOSE lovable labradors have collared the title of Britain’s favourite dog breed once more – but many owners see beyond the friendly faces and calm temperaments.
They insist their pets are life savers.
Their incredible sense of smell makes them marvellous medical detection dogs, sniffing out cancer and other diseases.
And as they are highly food-motivated and trainable, they can help with every task around the home, as well as providing emotional support and companionship.
According tothe Kennel Club, labradors have reclaimed the nation’s top dog crown from the fashionable French bulldog.
More than 3,900 litters were born between January and September this year.
Louisethompson, 38, describes her three-yearold labrador, Mercedes, as a miracle.
The former ward sister suffers from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a condition which causes her heart rate to reach 180 beats a minute.
She can faint up to 12 times a day and was scared to leave her house in case she collapsed.
But Mercedes, trained by the charity Medical Detection Dogs, is there to look out for her.
“She is just amazing,” said Louise, from Romford, east London. “When we’re out, if I’m going to collapse, she will look at me and her head and ears go square.
“Sometimes I won’t realise, so she will stop me and jump up and put her paws on me to tell me to lie down on the floor.
“Once I do this, my heart will slow down and I can get up and carry on with my day.”
Wheelchair-bound Kathy Hancock, 52, who used to work for the Dogstrust charity, has labrador Neptune, five, to help with household tasks – and his presence means she does not need a full-time carer.
Kathy has no feeling from the chest down after suffering a spinal injury in a fall 24 years ago and Neptune, trained by the charity Dogs for Good, lives with her inworcestershire.
He helps pick up the post, takes washing out of the machine, assists Kathy with dressing and turns lights on and off.
If Kathy’s oxygen line comes out in the night, Neptune will keep her alive by picking it up, waking her and giving it to her.
She said: “They are such clever dogs and give so much love. It means so much that I am responsible for them as well.
“Neptune always lifts my spirits. If he sees I’m low, he will bring me his toy. People chat to me because I have him and he’s given me a reason to live again.”
Kim O’donnell, 58, decided to get labrador puppy Leo in 2016.
The former nurse, from Staffordshire, has Sjogren’s syndrome, which causes digestive problems, joint inflammation and stiffness throughout the body. She also developed a heart condition that left her breathless, exhausted and suffering frightening palpitations.
Kim, who was advised to take early retirement, said: “After being unwell for many years, I stopped going out and seeing friends and everyday tasks like shopping were impossible.
“My husband and I had a serious rethink about what we should do and decided we should do all the things we were planning in retirement, because I feared I might not reach retirement age.we’d always talked about getting a dog and while I was at home I thought, ‘Why not?’.
“A friend’s dog was having puppies and we saw Leo when he was only four days old – and fell in love.
“He gave me my life back.without him I would have become a total recluse.”