Daisy has given her owner Bridget a new lease of life, and even helped her to make a new friend or two

Daisy came to us when we were just retired. We used to have a dog when our children were small and I was at home with them, so we knew how much joy they could bring to our lives.

Taking Daisy out for walks has helped us to meet lots of new people. She gets walked twice daily, which forces us to keep active and enjoy some fresh air every day, even when it’s cold and wet.

Helped us to meet lots of new people

Now our grandchildren are going to universities across the country and our children are busy working, we don’t see so much of them. Daisy fills this void and gives us lots of cuddles and love. She loves riding in cars, especially our Morris 1000! She also makes us laugh endlessly. It’s hard to imagine how we managed for all those years without a dog.

Katie know Nim was the dog for her when she was only a four-week-old pup, and since then she’s only continued to prove her right

Nim has only been in my life for 11 months, but I met her on the day she was born. And when she tried to drink some of my gin at four weeks old, I knew that was it – we were best friends for life.

She is the happiest and most trusting little spaniel. She loves a beach walk and digging holes, often barking and growling as she digs as she gets cross when the sand falls back in! She also loves an open field where she leaps like a gazelle through long grass.

My life has never felt more fulfilled

She adores all of the people in her life, and she likes to round everyone up and keep them together. When visiting my mum and dad (her grandparents), she won’t settle down to relax until we’re all squashed onto the same sofa. Otherwise, she spends all night swapping from seat to seat and glaring at whoever dares to sit elsewhere.

She is consistently the reason I get up in the morning, and the reason I travel around the country to visit beautiful places that I think she deserves to see. I work very hard to provide the life for her that she deserves, and my life has never felt more fulfilled than it has since the day she came home.

Hope goes everywhere with Launa and her partner, even when they spent six months travelling around Spain and Portugal

I lost my job 11 years ago, about the same time Hope was born. My brother gave her to me, so I had a reason to get out of bed in the mornings and she has certainly lived up to her name. Occasionally she is Hopeful or Hopeless too!

She’s the most chilled out dog I’ve ever known and we take her everywhere with us. In 2016, we had the opportunity to go travelling for six months around Spain and Portugal. Hope came too of course.

She’s the most chilled out dog I’ve ever known and we take her everywhere with us

We based ourselves in the Algarve and travelled around via public transport. She was always so well behaved that the train conductor would ask us why we had bought three tickets to travel (you pay for dogs there too). We always had to point her out, chilled or asleep at our feet.

Whenever we played stick or ball by the sea, we would gain a crowd as the locals have a different relationship with their dogs in the Algarve and were not used to them being so playful. Hope has stayed in Airbnbs across Portugal and never a whisper. The above photo is from Lisbon, which we adored, with Hope taking the crowds in her stride.

Max has brought Natalie’s whole family together, even helping to boost her daughter’s confidence

After many years of saying ‘One day we will get a dog’ and looking at everyone else getting puppies, we researched and looked and Max came into our lives at 15 weeks old in June 2021. He has brought the family together for walks and makes us smile. He’s very laid back and chilled, except when there is a cat walking across the garden. The way he trots, it’s almost like he’s a show pony!

The way he trots, it’s almost like he’s a show pony!

My youngest daughter often finds new situations stressful and can clam up, but Max is able to give her the confidence to try, and always reassures her that it’s OK. He has fitted into our lives and even enjoys a caravan holiday. But even though he enjoys exploring new places, he is just as happy being with us all.

Raven’s dog Pixie might be getting older, but she’s still got the same zest for life she’s had since she was a puppy

Pixie is a feisty, scruffy little black Border Terrier Miniature Poodle cross. Her well-earned nickname as a puppy was Taz, after the Tasmanian Devil, as she was a whirlwind of destruction. Keeping her well plied with toys saved our own toys and furniture!

Pixie has only ever known love and comfort

She’s a very sweet little dog, who loves everybody, even the family cat. Despite being 15 years old, she’s still very agile and lively with no stiffness. She still loves her favourite toy – a squeaky, startled baked potato that she’s had since she was a puppy.

Pixie has only ever known love and comfort, and she’s a great snuggler at night. She’s family.

Josie will always be grateful to Dash for helping to bring purpose to her days

I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression since my teenage years, and over lockdown, I was in a really bad place. My fiancé and I had talked about getting a dog since we met, and after buying our first home last year, we decided that the time was finally right – enter Dash.

He is such a blessing. I’ve never known a dog as affectionate as he is! He’s obsessed with giving us cuddles and kisses, and always seems to know when I’m struggling. He gives my days a structure and fills them with light.

He gives my days a structure and fills them with light

I get up in the morning because I know I have to feed him, and I look forward to playing with him on our daily walks, which bring me such joy. Getting out of the house and exercising in the fresh air is good for both of us. I was crippled by my anxiety before and wouldn’t even leave the house, but Dash has given me a purpose and now I look forward to exploring new places together.

Dash absolutely loves playing, especially fetch with his favourite ball, or a game of tug. He’s never happier than when the three of us are out in the garden together, and I love seeing his tail wag as he bunny hops through the grass.