Humphrey

Had a fascinating encounter in an antique shop in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire. I met an Alert Dog, Humphrey, and his owner. She's a music teacher, and was in the shop to assess a couple of violins they had in the window. While she gave an impromptu recital to check them out, Humphrey stood calmly by her side, wearing the distinctive orange jacket that identifies him as a seizure alert dog.

These dogs are trained to recognise, well ahead of their owner, any of the seven trigger signs of an impending epileptic seizure. When they do, they alert the owner of the need to urgently find a place of safety before the oncoming fit. Like Guide Dogs for the blind, these Alert Dogs come from a special breeding line, chosen for their intelligence and calmness.