Despite his poor health, Chino isn’t letting life get him down – and Michelle loves him all the more for it

Chino came into my life when I really needed him. He made life worth living. He's my shadow, always where I am. But he has cancer. So, he’s in the vet twice a week at the moment for blood tests and chemo.

He made life worth living

The vet says he is an amazing boy. He lets them do whatever they need to and still wags his tail and is pleased to see them. He's my brave boy. He still loves life and is having fun. He still shows his hatred of the postman. And I caught him sitting ON the dining room table last week – something he hasn't done since he was a puppy.

We're on borrowed time as we know remission is unlikely to last long once chemo finishes in April, but we are trying to make the most of our time together. I can't imagine life without him.

Soldier is always inspiring Vicky with his determination to live a normal life, despite his disability

Soldier amazes me on a daily basis because he lives life as if he’s ‘normal’. Our story together started when he was just five weeks old. He was born with a spinal defect and couldn’t use his hind legs normally, so he wasn’t able to walk.

As I own a canine hydrotherapy centre with physiotherapists, we thought we could help. However, after weeks and weeks of hard work, Soldier still couldn’t walk normally. So eventually we decided to have a set of wheels made in America that were specially measured for him. Twelve months later, he is now on his big boy wheels and doing amazingly. He can use his back legs sporadically, which helps him move along at some speed!

All I see is a dog full of light who’s just living his best life

Soldier absolutely loves his independence on wheels. He keeps up with our other dogs with absolutely no problems. When he comes out on walks, he never gets left behind and is definitely the happiest boy I’ve come across!

Some people pass us and tut or say ‘poor dog’ but all I see is a dog full of light who doesn’t know any different and is just living his best life. He runs through fields and woodlands, and paddles in rivers and lakes. He still loves to swim too – I just put him in a life jacket, lift him out of his wheels and let him go.

Soldier won’t have a long life, but we make the most of every day together. And for as long as he’s not in pain, he’ll continue to be my superhero!

Life hasn’t been kind to Laura for the past few years, but Pippa has always given her a reason to keep going

Pippa entered our lives, like a hurricane, in June 2021. We had all had our lives tipped upside down by Covid, and to top it all off, my partner Pete was diagnosed with terminal cancer. This was an enormous shock, as he had never had anything more than a mild cold in our 21 years together.

We’d recently heard about a five-month-old Patterdale Jack Russell who had been purchased by a family for their 17-year-old son during lockdown. Unfortunately, after six weeks or so, the son had completely lost interest in her, and she needed a new home. We hadn't been looking for a new best friend at the time, as we’d lost our elderly Parsons Jack Russell the year before. And what with Pete’s diagnosis, and me being on the waiting list for a new knee, we really weren't in the best place to take on a very lively young dog.

I am convinced this little doggy was sent to us from heaven

We discussed all the pros and all the cons and thought to ourselves ‘surely we can’t be this daft?!’ But we eventually decided that life is too short, and we needed someone to make us laugh, comfort us when we needed a cuddle and help us to face the world every day. Boy, oh boy, did we find the right medicine. Pippa is the funniest, cheekiest, most adorable, best friend we could ever have hoped for. Pete passed away five months ago, and I am convinced this little doggy was sent to us from heaven. She has saved my life. She’s my rock and my reason to carry on.

Right now, as I tell you my little story, I am in a hospital bed with my brand-new knee, missing Pippa very much. I’m missing the way she sits across my chest so she can feel my heartbeat, and the way she uses hypnotherapy when she thinks she deserves a treat. She won't be missing me right now though, as she’s having an amazing, thoroughly deserved holiday on the beach. She’ll be running through the woods, swimming in the river and probably getting covered in mud. And we’ll be doing all those things together from here on in, for many years to come.

Sally can’t resist Barney’s cuteness – she’s just got to hope that everyone else feels the same way!

My Cavapoo Barney is such a huge part of my life. During all the lockdown periods, he has always been the one who cheers me up, makes me laugh and most importantly, doesn't judge me for my questionable fashion choices!

He is a very sensitive dog and reacts to my moods, especially if I’m feeling down. When he can sense that I’m upset, he’ll comfort me by cuddling up for a snuggle.

He can sense that I’m upset

Barney is very cute, but he knows it, and so he’s always trying to wrangle an extra treat or two. This would be fine if it was just from me, but he has been known to creep up behind strangers in the park because he can smell treats in their pockets. We try to be strict with him, but we’re yet to succeed with that.

Red was suffering from various health problems when Gwen first took him in, but that never stopped him from being his lively, cheeky self

Red came to me from a friend whose son had rescued him. I was his fifth home when he was only six months old. He’s very friendly and energetic. However, he came with health issues. He had giardia parasites, campylobacter and round worm. He’d have an upset stomach about a dozen or more times a day.

He also had build-ups of energy, where he’d just run and run. It took a while, but I got him healthy. Then came recall training. We did that on long stretches of riverbank. I even recorded him running at 25mph down the road.

Red’s always been a Houdini-level escape artist

Red’s always been a Houdini-level escape artist, and he still takes himself off sometimes for some solo exercise, then comes home and waits in the front garden for someone to come and play ball. Whenever he's brought up the drive, he barks and heralds a new friend to play with. He’ll even go into my neighbour’s garden to scratch at her door, asking them to come and play.

Every day, he waits for the postie or anyone visiting and puts his ball through the gate to greet them. Even some people who’ve been frightened of dogs have been charmed by his playful antics. He's also good with small children and takes the ball to their feet to play. He's a happy, joyful, funny, intelligent boy.

Joanna’s dog Oscar (pictured) has been the perfect role model for her younger Cockapoo, Albie

I’m very lucky to have two wonderful, funny and cuddly Cockapoos called Oscar and Albie, who are my fur babies. My youngest, Albie, is a rescue who was sadly abused as a puppy and pushed from pillar to post with three different owners.

He came to me at only 18 months old, after he was literally hours from being put to sleep by his previous owners, who could no longer handle him. He had a lot of behavioural issues, which has taken a lot of strength and tenacity, but we’ve gradually worked on them together!

They absolutely adore each other

Albie and his best friend Oscar, who’s eight, absolutely adore each other. Oscar has been Albie’s role model and inspiration to learn to be a good doggy, which I am so grateful for. They give me so much joy, from cuddles in bed to days on the beach, swimming in the sea with them.

They are always there for me no matter what I’m going through. They always put a smile on my face, and I couldn’t imagine my life without them.