Now his racing career is over, Rebel is finally getting to enjoy life to the full thanks to Sophie

Rebel is everything to us! As first-time dog owners, we were so nervous about getting a pet, but we knew rescuing a Greyhound was the right choice. Just a few days before we were due to pick him up, he'd been attacked in the rescue centre so came to us full of bites and stitches – a great way to get to know our lovely local vets!

Judging by Rebel's scars from his racing days, it's clear he's had a tough life before retirement. But we are determined to teach him to just enjoy life. He now takes full ownership of the sofa and bed, wakes us up by rooing and teeth chattering in the morning, and can't get enough of his toys and snacks.

He’s the most perfect, loving dog who has completely changed our lives for the better. Of course, he still enjoys running in an enclosed field to impress us!

We are determined to teach him to just enjoy life

Whether they’re out for walks or snuggling up at home, Sam’s puppy Lilly has been the light of her life for the past year

Ever since I got Lilly, my Spanish Water Dog puppy, she’s brought me lots of love, happiness and fun. In January this year, my beloved dog Zuky crossed the rainbow bridge at the old age of 15, but Lilly has been a wonderful companion. She checks up on me to make sure I’m OK, and she’s helping me cope with the huge loss in my heart.

When I went to see Lilly as a puppy, I entered the room and she came over, licked my face and snuggled up. They do say a puppy chooses their owner! Before I got her, my health was declining rapidly. Now I feel like a different person. Not only has she been excellent for my physical health, but she’s helped my confidence with meeting people – something I find difficult due to a neurological condition I have.

Lilly’s more than just a dog

Every day we go for a walk, come rain or shine. We have lots of fun walking in the countryside, and then in the evening, we relax watching our favourite nature documentaries with David Attenborough. She gets the zoomies every evening. And she has loads of different toys, but her favourite is my outdoor Crocs!

Lilly’s more than just a dog, she’s my world. She loves her life and has everything a young dog needs to remain happy and healthy. I couldn’t imagine life without her. She’s also doing really well with her training as I have lots of dog knowledge, so she’s a very good puppy. She’ll soon be at her teenage stage, which could be a challenge, but I’m ready for whatever comes our way.

Vanessa loves to explore, and with Pip by her side, every day is an adventure

We have sheep, so we decided to get a Border Collie to help us with rounding them up. Pip is brilliant at that and really loves her work.

I do a lot of hiking and have always wanted to walk Hadrian's Wall, which stretches across England. Last September, Pip and I booked our ferry from Ireland and we stayed in hikers' hotels all along the trail. Pip was welcome everywhere – in all the hotels, pubs, and even on the ramblers' bus which would take us to the nearest town each afternoon for supplies. At the end of our trip, we got to Newcastle and took the train back to Carlisle to get the car. All along the trail, people asked me ‘How are you doing this on your own?’, and I told them that I’m never on my own when I have Pip by my side.

I’m never on my own when I have Pip

Thanks to my furry companion, I enjoyed my holiday all the more, and it just wouldn’t have been the same without her.

The joy that Lottie brought to Kerry’s life inspired her to start an online group to brighten other dog-lovers’ days too

Lottie has had such a positive impact on my life in every way. I was diagnosed with cerebrovascular disease and the doctor said I needed to try and live a happy, stress-free life. After a couple of years of researching dog breeds, we chose a Shih Tzu and here she is!

She’s changed the lives of our whole family massively. Personally, I’ve really benefited from the extra exercise and her calming influence. I have to take tablets each day but Lottie is definitely a pill I couldn’t live without! A dog is the best medicine.

She also brings such joy to our extended family with her love and attention. She greets everyone with a kiss and a cuddle, or rolls over for a tummy tickle! I can’t get out of bed in the morning without a Lottie cuddle – she doesn’t allow it. Lottie isn’t really one for tricks but chasing and fetching balls is one of her favourite things.

A dog is the best medicine

And she hasn’t just brought joy to us. I work in a school office and, after one particularly bad day during the pandemic, I came home, sat on the sofa with a cup of tea and Lottie next to me, and thought ‘I need something else to distract me from work.’

So, in January 2021, Barking Mad Cheshire came alive. It’s a group for dog lovers and businesses, and a year later I’ve got over 4,500 members. The joy and positivity that Lottie and the other dogs in the group have brought to so many people is unbelievable. I’ve received a number of messages saying how the group has helped people during sad times and got them through difficult days, especially during the pandemic.

Lottie is such a joy and I can’t imagine my life without her. She’s a loving, loyal little dog.

After a fall out with his partner, Peter decided that Kush was the perfect way to bring the family back together

The bizarre story behind us getting pup: one Sunday afternoon, my partner and I had a ‘heated debate’ which resulted in her going to stay at her mum’s for a couple of weeks. The next night, my son and I were talking about our old dogs, as it had been five years since we lost them, and something in my heart said, ‘is it about time we looked for a new dog?’ The look on my son’s face was answer enough and we googled ‘blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier pups for sale’.

We couldn’t imagine being without him!

The top search result was an advert for six white pups and just one blue. Here's where fate kicked in: the pups were in a Shropshire town, a couple of hours from us and not somewhere we would normally go, BUT I already had a work meeting booked in that very town later in the week!

I contacted the breeder and arranged to visit on the day of the meeting. I took my son and, as they say, Kush chose us by sitting on my son’s knee the whole time we were there. We brought him home and that just left the tiny issue of telling my partner I bought a dog!

Rather than ruin a good surprise, I said nothing and waited for her to come back from her mum’s. As she came through the door, I left pup on the floor right in front of her. Needless to say, she immediately fell in love with Kush and all was good. He's now a year old and we couldn't imagine being without him!

Paula didn’t give up on Denzil, and because of that he found the strength to survive. Now he’s helping other dogs do the same.

Denzil is a Morkie and we bought him from a registered kennel in Wales. His story is very special as he is the only dog to survive severe GME (Meningitis). He has had a research paper done on him by Liverpool University, veterinary hospital.

Problems started just after his first booster at our vets. We thought he was just having a reaction to his injections, then a few days after finishing his medication, he collapsed in our garden! We took him to our vet straight away and luckily one of the vets was from Germany and said that she thought it could be meningitis. They referred us to Liverpool university Wraith animal hospital.

His story is very special

What ensued was 18 months of IV treatment, 32 tablets a day and five 10-hour chemotherapy sessions. I researched the best foods to give him, and I also used aromatherapy massage to help ease the muscles in his spine and he started to respond. Finally, at nearly 3 years old he was given the all clear! Denzil now has his own Facebook page to raise awareness of this terrible disease and to encourage vets to refer immediately.