Lynn might be retired, but with naughty little Alfie to keep her company, her life is anything but quiet!

We got Alfie when he was just eight weeks old, just after I had retired. I have rheumatoid arthritis and need to keep myself mobile – and Alfie is just what I need, providing me with reason to get out and walk every day.

He can be very naughty

He is physically and mentally a force of nature, but he is such amazing company and we love him dearly. He can be very naughty – he knows what he shouldn’t do but likes to do it anyway! He always makes up for it though, by jumping up and giving us kisses.

Lily’s love for life has helped Kathryn’s children to get outside and stay positive

Lily is a fun-loving English Springer Spaniel. She is obsessed with tennis balls and loves to swim!

Her boundless energy and love for the outdoors is helping my four teenagers to get through lockdown. She gives them something to do each day and gets them out of the house and into the fresh air.

She keeps our whole household smiling

One of her favourite pastimes is chasing my 19-year-old son as he skateboards around the park. Lily is truly bonkers and a best friend to all of my children. She keeps our whole household smiling through even the darkest days.

Pickle has brought nothing but happiness to his owner Lyndsey and her family

Pickle is a lockdown puppy, as we got him in July 2020. I am a nurse and have worked throughout the lockdowns. From the moment Pickle came into our house, he made us laugh and gave us all a reason to smile again. He truly was a ray of sunshine in a pretty grey and miserable year.

He always knows if we’re going out without him

He’s a clever dog, and always knows if we’re going out without him. When he can sense this is about to happen, he’ll refuse to come in from the garden, stopping us from leaving! His favourite thing to do is chase after balls, so every time we walk him, we take about three with us. One is for him to chase, one’s for him to carry while he runs and the other is a spare, because he’ll inevitably lose a ball along the way.

My dog has recently helped me to raise money for the charity Dementia UK. We did a 100km walk for them in just three days, and Pickle joined us every step of the way. We’re very proud of him.

At the end of a long day, Claire looks forward to coming home to her dog Teddy, who helps wash the stress away.

My lovely Teddy has been the best possible medicine for me over the Covid-19 crisis. I work as a complex care nurse, and he helps me to unwind after a busy and stressful shift. There’s nothing better than being greeted at the door by my big, happy, soft boy.

His happiness is contagious

We like to go out as soon as I get home from work and walk in the local valley, Teddy chasing the squirrels and splashing about it the local stream. His happiness is contagious and I can soon feel the stress of the day leaving my body.

Teddy is true to his name, he is so soft and gentle. He loves to play with all the dogs in our local park and is a bit of a local star in our village, everyone knows him (my husband and myself, don’t get a look in!).

Ever since Elaine adopted Cisco a couple of years ago, he has grown from a nervous rescue into a loving, playful dog

Cisco is an Ibizan Hound cross. He was in a rescue centre in Spain, where he was handed in by a hunter, and then he was moved here to the UK. He was very fearful to begin with, and he still often gets unsettled by people he doesn't know.

It has been an honour to build a bond with Cisco

It has been an honour to build a bond with Cisco and gain his trust over the two years since we adopted him. He loves cuddles and lying against us. His personality has blossomed, and he’s become a goofy character at times. He pads his paws on the spot when he’s excited and can appear like a cartoon character.

He still finds the world scary sometimes, but he has shown so much resilience. He’s also always been a gentle boy and never reacted in an aggressive way, even when he’s frightened.

Diane is doing everything she can to help Wish enjoy the happy life she deserves

Wish came into our lives after she retired. We've always had Collies, and had been without one for nearly five years after losing my last. Wish has some funny habits, like how she won’t eat her morning biscuits until we allsit down. She also gives you a disapproving look, like you're being told off,when you've been out and left her at home!

Wish has some funny habits

She loves her ears being tickled and often rests her head against your knees to tell you that’s what she wants. Wish makes our home a happy place, and we can only hope we’re helping her to enjoy her retirement years.