"I haven’t needed emergency help since Mae": the dog detecting trouble before machines can
When Mae arrived as a puppy, her owner quickly realised she was full of potential. Mae was bright, focused and eager to learn. What no one expected was just how essential she would become. Today, Mae is a fully trained Medical Alert Assistance Dog, helping her owner manage PoTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome), a condition that can cause sudden dizziness, fainting and rapid heart rate. Although Mae was her owner’s dog from the start, the partnership would not have been possible without the guidance of Medical Detection Dogs (MDD).
“Before Mae, I needed urgent medical help several times a month,” her owner explains. “Since having Mae, I haven’t needed emergency intervention at all. Mae alerts before an episode, giving me time to get into a safe position. It’s been life changing.”
Mae reliably senses what is coming before any medical equipment can register it, giving her owner the crucial time needed to manage symptoms and avoid dangerous collapses. The impact has been huge, restoring independence, reducing anxiety around unpredictable episodes and enabling her owner to continue pursuing a PhD in cancer research as well as everyday activities that once felt out of reach.
“Mae has completely changed how I live day to day,” she says. “Because of her alerts, I’m able to live far more independently and without constant worry.”
Medical Detection Dogs, a UK charity recognised for training dogs to detect disease and alert to medical conditions, relies entirely on donations. Partnerships like Mae’s are an important part of their mission to help people living with complex and unpredictable health conditions. Their expert trainers supported both dog and handler throughout the process, helping Mae develop into a reliable medical alert assistance dog.
To give back, Mae’s owner has organised an online fundraising raffle, with all proceeds supporting Medical Detection Dogs.
Raffle prizes include:
- A 90-minute professional pet photoshoot
- A custom digital pet or human portrait
- An indoor dog swim session
- A garden centre voucher
- Official Medical Detection Dogs goodies
“I wanted to raise awareness of the charity that helped us,” she says. “Mae was my dog from the start, but MDD helped her become the dog who keeps me safe. Supporting them means helping someone else experience the same independence.”
The raffle is open online, and the organiser hopes local residents and dog lovers alike will take part, whether by entering, sharing the story or learning more about MDD’s work. The raffle will be drawn on Friday 12th December 2025.
“Mae changed my life. This fundraiser is my way of helping MDD change someone else’s.”
Find out more /how to donate:
Fundraising raffle and donation link:
Medical Detection Dogs official website: