With Bandit around, there’s never a dull day for Karla and her family

We'd been looking for a rescue dog for a while, but were having no luck. We eventually found Bandit through a site linked with dogs in Romania and Serbia.

Bandit was due to come to us at the end of the month. We hadn’t told our children yet, so it would be a surprise for them – though our youngest son was still afraid of cats at this point, so we were a little apprehensive at how it would all work out!

Bandit has really helped him to come out of his shell

Fast forward to a few months later, and they are the best of friends. They spend lots of time together, snuggling and playing. Bandit has really helped my son to come out of his shell.

Bandit is a great asset to our family in more ways than one and has definitely brought us closer together with all the walks we now take, though it would be nice if he stopped chewing threw his leads – I think we’re onto number 16 now!

He loves everyone and everything and is so happy to play with the other dogs in the park. He even adores our cat, but the feeling isn't mutual!

Princess Peggy’s been in a few unfortunate accidents since joining Kathleen’s family, but she always manages to get away without a scratch

I bought Princess Peg Peg, or Peggy, for my son Michael who has Asperger’s, and he named her. Straight away, we knew she was special. It was easy to teach her commands and there’s not a bad bone in her body.

One day, she was looking out of the upstairs window, and could see Michael in the garden below. She leaned out too much and fell! Miraculously, she was uninjured. How? We don’t know. Maybe she had a guardian angel!

There’s not a bad bone in her body

Another time, Michael was across the road when Princess Peggy ran out of the house to be with him. A car hit her, and again, she was uninjured! So, she learnt the hard way NOT to lean out of windows, and NOT to run across the road.

Her wonderful nature has brought her many friends, young and old, over the years. Two years ago she was diagnosed with cancer, but after having the lumps removed, she’s made a full recovery.

Princess Peggy will be 14 next month, but we hope that she’ll be around for a few more years, greeting all who may come her way.

Julia loves Alfie for many reasons, but she’s particularly proud of how he looks after her daughter, Jessamy.

Alfred is adored by our whole family, but he’s a real support dog to our eldest daughter Jessamy, who is a young adult with Autism. He seems to intuitively sense how she’s feeling, and always responds accordingly. He’s always so fun and loves to play with her – he even acts as her personal trainer, getting her to enjoy spending time outdoors.

He seems to intuitively sense how she’s feeling

He loves to sit on sofas and chairs and when we are at the table for a family meal, he thinks that he too should be given a seat, just so he can sit with us! We couldn’t ask for a more loyal and loving companion.

Since she moved in with Ashlea’s family, Millie’s transformed from a fearful rescue dog to a happy, loving pooch

Millie is a rescue Golden Retriever who has been part of our family for just over a year now, alongside her sister Bella, who is a rescue tortoiseshell cat.

We live in the Forest of Dean so Millie’s absolute favourite thing is long hikes through the forest, where she can run after squirrels and wallow in every muddy puddle, pond and stream she can find.

Millie was a little nervous when we first got her, but now she’ll go up to any person she sees for fuss and cuddles. Unfortunately for her, some people are less keen for cuddles after she’s had a good mud roll.

Millie was previously kept in an outside run and had never been in a house before we brought her home, but she’s now fully adapted to a life of luxury, snoozing on the sofa or our bed! She’s a beautiful, gentle and sweet-souled girl. I may be biased, but to me, she is the dog of the year every year.

To me, she is the dog of the year every year

Victoria gave Ozzy a new home last year, and he’s making each and every day count

Ozzy was surrendered to the vet practice I worked in at 10 months old and needed to be given a second chance. I was hoping to get my first dog since moving out of my family home in summer 2023, but I agreed to take Ozzy on in August 2022 (a year earlier!) and have never looked back.

He is the most intelligent (although he does very often fall off the bed in the middle of the night!), friendly and loving dog I have ever met. He loves coming with me to look after my horse every morning and evening, goes on long walks to lots of different places, and he even went stand up paddle boarding with me the first weekend I had him.

His favourite place to go is the beach, he LOVES going for a swim, a long walk and then finishing with a doggy ice cream. His equal favourite place is in the bed, and at 3am every morning he creeps up from the end of the bed and cuddles up in between me and his dad underneath the duvet. I am new to the county I currently live in, so it has been great fun exploring the countryside with Oz by my side. Our little rescue pup has given us endless fun and I can’t wait for the years ahead with him.

He even went stand up paddle boarding with me the first weekend I had him

Working from home can get lonely sometimes, but Brittany knows she’ll always have Indy to keep her company.

Indy is a huge part of my life, even though he's only been with us for four months! He's an important part of our family and I couldn't imagine life without him

This year, I’ve been working from home all day, while my partner still goes into his office. It can get lonely sometimes, but Indy is always there to put a smile on my face, whether that be by zooming around the house or playing tug of war with me!

Always there to put a smile on my face

Indy is very well trained. He’ll always sit on command and is often complimented for his politeness and charm (if he sees a woman walking towards him when we're out, he always sits for her!). He really is the best thing that’s has ever happened to us.