The lifesaving work of a food allergy detection dog has amazed internet viewers, as her owner displayed just how diligent she is when it comes to identifying the faintest traces of peanuts.
Living with an allergy can be a debilitating experience, constantly living in fear that a severe reaction is just around the corner. Natalie Rice used to be terrified for her teenage daughter’s safety, until detective Harley came into their lives in 2019.
Harley, the 4-year-old golden retriever, is trained to detect any traces of peanuts and alert Rice, or her daughter, to the danger. Rice told Newsweek that she is in awe of Harley’s remarkable ability, and in five years, the dog hasn’t made a single mistake.
Rice often posts videos on social media (@detectiveharleyfadd on TikTok and Instagram) to show exactly what Harley does when she detects peanuts, and when food is safe.
“When there aren’t any traces of any peanuts, she is trained to look away,” Rice said. “However, when she first arrived with us, she started making eye contact with me when it was safe, so now she does both. When there are traces of peanuts, she touches my leg to alert.
@detectiveharleyfadd / TikTok
“We check everything from a restaurant, a bakery, and when we travel too. We also check grocery items, specifically major brands and grocery store chain brands. The only things we don’t check are true peanut-free foods (meaning the entire facility is peanut-free).”
How Common Are Food Allergies?
The charity organization Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) estimates that there are approximately 33 million people in the U.S. with at least one food allergy.
More than 170 foods have been reported to cause allergic reactions, with shellfish, milk, peanut, and tree nuts among the most common in adults and children.
Every year, the U.S. sees 3.4 million patients visiting the emergency room because of a food allergy reaction. FARE highlights that this equates to another visit every 10 seconds, with over 40 percent of children with food allergies experiencing a severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis.
Rice showed just how precise Harley’s instincts are in a recent video, as she detected traces of peanuts in a loaf of bread. It was unusual because Rice said they have never had any issues with that bakery before. Then she realized that maybe it wasn’t the bread, but rather, the packaging it came in.
“I decided to break it down, so I carefully slid the bread out of the bag onto a clean surface without touching it and had her check the bag. She alerted to the empty bag.
“But then I didn’t know if it was on the inside or the outside of the bag, or if the bread was safe. So, I had her check the bread and she passed it,” Rice continued.
Although Harley passed the loaf of bread, Rice was still nervous for her daughter, so she cut the bread into tiny chunks and had the dog inspect each one. She passed every single one, so Rice knew the peanut traces must have been on the outside of the bag.
Rice said that someone could have picked up the bag after coming into contact with peanuts. Whenever she is unsure about something, she will do process of elimination with Harley to rule out any potential risks.
“Even after all this time, it’s just as amazing to me as it was the first time I saw it,” Rice added.
The last time Rice’s daughter had an allergic reaction was in fact when Harley wasn’t with her. She was at a restaurant and warned the staff about her severe allergy, but she was still served a sandwich that contained pesto made with peanuts.
As a result, she ended up in hospital requiring epinephrine medication to save her. “Had Harley been there, she would have stopped my daughter from eating it,” Rice said.
@detectiveharleyfadd / TikTok
The Social Media Response
The video of Harley checking the bread has generated over 3 million views and more than 230,000 likes on TikTok, as well as 360,000 views on Instagram.
Harley, who was trained by Kathy Watters of Nosey Dog Detection Partners, has astounded internet viewers with her lifesaving accuracy.
Rice told Newsweek: “The purpose was, and still is, to raise awareness for food allergies. They’re not a joke and they’re not a choice. They are a life-threatening medical condition. Nobody asks for them and people can’t help it if they have them.
“People assume it’s a kid thing, but the reality is that anyone can develop an allergy at any time in their life, even to a food they’ve eaten all their life.”
Rice will continue using social media to document Harley’s meticulous work and educating people about the importance of taking food allergies seriously. Whether they are trying new food from the store, or dining out at a restaurant, Harley will keep the family safe, as nothing gets past her nose unnoticed.
“Harley’s nose gives a visual to concepts that are hard to understand, so we’re here to help raise awareness about food allergy safety, food labeling, and anything else that her nose can help with. Harley keeps my daughter safe, and this is our way of helping others,” Rice added.
In just a matter of days, the viral TikTok video has generated over 400 comments as social media users were full of praise for Harley and her fellow service animals.
One comment reads: “amazed at the things that these service dogs can learn!”
Another TikTok user wrote: “Service dogs are incredible and I’m so proud of all of them being such good dogs and keeping people safe.”
A third posted: “This is so amazing. I can’t even get my dog to drink water out of a new water bowl.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
