By Life-saving medical dog retires after years of service
Clive, the four-legged live-saver, has officially retired after years of service as a medical assistance dog.
Alongside his owner Michelle Sutherland from Humberside Police’s Logistics Department, Clive was her faithful companion and a true lifesaver.
After getting Clive as a puppy in 2012, Michelle was diagnosed with the life-limiting condition Addison’s Disease, a rare disorder of the adrenal gland with life-debilitating symptoms.
After spending a long period in hospital following complications related to her condition, Michelle returned home and noticed a change in Clive’s behaviour.
Following a chance conversation at Crufts in 2014 with representatives from Medical Detection dogs, a suggestion was made about the possibility of having Clive trained as an assistance dog to help Michelle manage her condition better.
It soon became apparent that the changes Michelle had noticed in Clive were signs of him alerting her of a change in her condition.
After 18 months in training, he became her Medical Alert Assistance dog.
Clive can detect a drop in Michelle’s steroid levels by a change in her scent levels and makes her aware of this by either jumping up to her face or if she is asleep pawing at her until he gets her attention.
As a result, he was a life saver every day and emergency ambulance trips became a thing of the past.
Clive is also a canine celebrity after featuring in several publications over the years as well as winning several awards including the 2019 Pet Health Club’s “Pet Hero of the Year” and the Barking Mad Pet of the year
He will earn his most prestigious award the PDSA Order of Merit, later in the year which is the animal equivalent of an OBE.
Congratulations and happy retirement Clive!
