Debbie couldn’t be without her gorgeous dog and best friend Bella

Bella is a seven-year-old Corgi crossed with a Sheltie. I have Borderline Personality Disorder, which means my moods can change at any given time. Bella senses when I am very low and will jump up and put her paw on my arm to comfort me.

Put her paw on my arm to comfort me

As my Emotional Support Dog, Bella goes everywhere with me and even helps me in the shops. She’s really smart – she always knows when it is time for breakfast, and will come out of the bedroom and head to her foodmat in preparation.

She loves going out in the car and also enjoys her walks, especially in the long grass. Bella is very good with wild animals and won't ever chase them. Her favourite place is the beach, as she likes to feel the sand between her paws. I have so much love for her, and I know she loves me too. I simply can't imagine life without her.

Everyone needs someone to remind them that life is full of little joys, and that’s exactly what Vali does for Julia.

My boy has had a hugely positive influence in my life. I’d already owned two dogs before I got him last November. I sadly lost one in January and getting Vali helped me to deal with my grief.

A hugely positive influence in my life

During these recent tough months, he’s been my reason to go out each day. I love photography and he’s inspired me to get back out into the world and pursue my passion, since he enjoys coming with me.

Vali is an amazing dog – he is very sweet-natured and a bit of a clown, so he keeps me smiling and laughing each day.

Mark’s dog Dobby has many quirky habits that bring his family endless joy

Dobby is a Whippet and Italian greyhound cross who always makes us laugh. He enjoys stealing people’s socks, running very fast around Chesterracecourse and pinching our toast, but what he loves most is climbing intothe basket of warm washing after it has been tumble dried.

He enjoys stealing people’s socks

He has made a real difference to our family life during the pandemic. My daughter has always wanted a dog and he has provided her so much comfort over the last six months, helping her to get out and exercise and stay positive. He can be a little over enthusiastic at times, but that’s just part of his charm.

She may be small, but Sissy has had a huge impact on Jessica and her parents’ lives

Every morning, Sissy wakes me with a bang on the door as she uses all of her tiny strength to batter her way into my bedroom. You would think she loves me, but really she just wants to curl up and sleep for an extra hour after my parents get up. She has a habit of curling up next to me like a freshly baked, fluffy cinnamon swirl – with her signature pink tail.

The best times with Sissy are on our local beach in Conwy. As soon as she gets on the beach (after 200+ sniffs and wees) she fires off like a rocket, running at 100 mph, stopping only to lie on her back and do a wriggly breakdance in the sand.

Sissy is the glue that holds us all together

There are four of us in our family, and Sissy is the glue that holds us all together. My dad works on ships that go all over the world, and his goal is to leave a Sissy hair on every ship in the sea. We go nowhere without her – she has had her picture taken on the beach in Cannes, the Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland and next to a Ferrari in Monte Carlo.

The best thing about Sissy is her affectionate nature and her often wonky looks. Having completed my PhD during the lockdowns, she was my loyal companion sitting on my knee with her head on the keyboard. Day after day, she was there to bring smiles to zoom meetings (and often a great excuse to leave them!).

She can go from looking the best in show after a brush, to looking like a drunk Donald Trump after a good windswept breakdance on the beach. The most special thing about having her as a baby sister is waking up with her under my chin, snuggled up warm and peaceful.

Amy and her dog Alfie have both faced their own difficulties in life, but now they can always rely on each other for support

My dog Alfie (aka Alfred, Alfie Moo, Moose or Moosey) is my best friend. I was approached by a rescue service who desperately needed an urgent foster for him. After a month, I knew we had the most amazing bond, so I adopted him.

At the time I was getting my life back together after a tricky couple of years and Alfie became such a massive part of that journey. When the country went into lockdown and I was living away from my family, I was so glad to have him with me!

I feel so honoured that I can give him a loving home

He's still a nervous dog, but he's so clever and I feel so honoured that I can give him a loving home. He never lets me lie in, and he insists on walkies first thing in the morning, even on a day off! That is unless it’s raining, when he quickly turns back round for home.

He's grown to trust and love my parents and partner. He's also the biggest cheese fiend and can smell it from a mile away. While he doesn't like the car, he always enjoys our adventures out and about.

I'm proud I get to come home to Moose every day. I don't know what he went through before he came to me (and I don't want to know), but he's an inspiration!

From the moment Deborah adopted him, Pepe the Chihuahua has slotted perfectly into her life – and her handbag!

Pepe is a joy. I was living alone before I got him, and it was just a bit lonely. It had been a couple of years since my previous dog had passed away, and I had been on the fence about whether to get another dog. If I did, I knew it would have to be the right one.

He is the sweetest, friendliest and quietest dog I’ve known

In the end, picking Pepe was a bit of a whirlwind. I adopted him from a family who had other big dogs where Pepe (as a Chihuahua) was getting trampled. Unlike many Chihuahuas, he is the sweetest, friendliest and quietest dog I’ve known. He’s happy to meet everyone, children and adults alike, and he’s always curious about other dogs – if a little nervous around the bouncy ones. I don’t blame him!

He’s fitted into my life perfectly. He’ll hop in a bag and come into the shops with me, chill out in the office at work, travel on adventures with me in the campervan, and sleep while I’m working from home. It sounds cliché, but he literally gives me a reason to smile every single day, and I just hope he feels the same.