The In Situ Foundation based in Chico, California, has spent the last 12 years developing scientific protocols that are needed to train cancer detection dogs and their handlers. In collaboration with top research universities including Duke and UC Davis, they rescue dogs and train them to sniff out specific cancers. All training is reward based.
What I particularly like about this registered charitable foundation is their mission to use rescue dogs “Our mission is to use shelter/rescue dogs whenever possible. We adopt dogs and give them loving homes, so what could have been a dog on death row, is now being trained to save human lives. All dogs are “super sniffers”, so we do not believe in breeding them, or creating a “super sniffer” breed.”
The dogs of In Situ live in residential homes with their adoptive families. Their day jobs are to go to work at the Foundation.
Here are the current dogs in the In Situ team:
Stewie is a 5 year-old, female, Australian Shepherd. She has been one of In Situ’s best dogs, and has been trained to detect early stage lung, ovarian, and breast cancer. She was one of our star dogs in a 2012 ovarian cancer study, and she is also on Duke University’s canine team for breast cancer. Stewie has also competed in agility, obedience, and is a certified therapy dog with Pet Partners and LA Children’s Hospital, where she visits sick children. Stewie was nominated for the 2015 American Hero Dog Award, given by the American Humane Association. Stewie is a beautiful, loving, smart and talented dog, who loves her work more than anything, except the frisbee.
Charlie is the newest addition to the team. She is a six week-old German Shepherd from champion lines (from Nadulhaus German Shepherds) and will be one of the first dogs in the world trained on upper thoracic (head, neck and throat) cancer, using saliva samples. After 12 to 18 months of training with In Situ Foundation, she will be owned and loved by Dr. Peter Belafsky (University of California, Davis) and will work with him to sniff samples in clinical trails, which will help advance protocols to detect cancer at its earliest stages through olfaction.
DoggyMom.com 
Most intelligent dogs need a job to keep them out of trouble. Too many people want a smart dog to be lazy and laid back. Fred was one of those. Her job as Therapy dog is what helps keep her happy.
I agree. And although I like the concept of doggy day care – it’s actually not appropriate for many of the intelligent breeds because it doesn’t give them that job. I prefer dog walking services for these dogs that take them to a variety of locations, for example, for the stimulation they need. This, combined with pursuing activities like therapy, tracking, etc., make for a happier and healthier dog.
All wonderful dogs doing amazing work!
Check out my blog category on special dogs and awards and you’ll read even more about special dogs!
I will, thank you!
AWESOME! Will definitely check out this foundation. Can’t wait to show your blog to the greyt spouse. We are both very much approve of rescued dogs. We have rescued 3 greyhounds and 2 regular dogs.
Greyt! I am always happy to hear when my blog is being shared. I am Doggy Mom to one retired racing greyhound. The dog on the banner is Daisy, my English Pointer who passed away in 2014. I intend to update my banner when I get some good photos (of me, Izzy the Greyhound is always photogenic)