A dog born at Battersea whose outstanding sense of smell could one day help improve the detection of serious lung infections has returned to the world-famous animal welfare charity for a special homecoming visit.
Two-year-old Labrador Chilli returned to Battersea’s London centre to reunite with the staff who cared for him for the first few months of his life, as well as his brother Reggie who was also born at Battersea and later adopted by a loving family.
While many of the dogs Battersea cares for go on to become much-loved pets, the charity also works with organisations across the UK to identify dogs like Chilli whose individual traits could make them suited to specialist working roles.
On the day, Chilli demonstrated the remarkable skills he has developed since beginning training with Medical Detection Dogs in June 2024, including identifying scents carried on pieces of material no larger than a postage stamp. The bio-detection dog in training is now learning to detect disease-specific odours beyond the reach of the human nose.
Libby Cannon, an Operations Project Officer at Battersea who fostered Chilli as a puppy, said: “It was so special to have Chilli visit Battersea for the day and to witness his training in action. When I fostered him, he was always inquisitive and spent most of his time with his nose to the ground, sniffing everything. We always knew he loved using his nose, but none of us could have imagined where that would lead”.
During his visit, Chilli also took part in a scent box activity, quickly identifying a hidden fragment of tennis ball from among four identical boxes. Reggie, however, took a more relaxed approach, preferring socialising and searching for snacks over showing off his own scent skills.
Chilli’s training currently focuses on detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium responsible for the most common chronic lung infections experienced by people with cystic fibrosis.
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, which works closely with Medical Detection Dogs, said dogs like Chilli could play an important role in improving early detection of infections.
Paula Sommer, Head of Research Awards and Partnerships at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, said: “We know that many people with cystic fibrosis live with long term lung infections, for example those caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We desperately need better, more effective ways to detect them and medical detection dogs like Chilli are an exciting area of investigation. We want to find out if people with cystic fibrosis could ultimately monitor their lung infections from home by sending in samples for the dogs to check”.
Chilli’s journey has been supported by funding raised by players of Postcode Lottery, whose support helps Battersea continue its work caring for dogs and cats at its centres, across the UK and around the world.
Peter Laurie, Chief Executive at Battersea, said: “At a time when charities are facing sustained pressure, the generous support of players of Postcode Lottery means that we can continue to change the lives of thousands of dogs and cats every year. Chilli’s story is a powerful example of how that support creates a far-reaching impact – giving animals in our care the chance to thrive and in some cases, to even go on to make a difference in the world in unexpected ways”.
Claire Dowse, Chilli’s Trainer at Medical Detection Dogs, said: “Chilli’s training is going really well. He’s a clever, confident boy who loves to use his nose in exchange for rewards and praise. He has been learning to detect his training odour in different equipment and picks everything up very quickly. We’re so grateful to Battersea for contacting us about him.”
