With her hilarious dog Dougie in tow, Sophie can’t get away with much!

Dougie is a young pup in an old dog’s body. If he doesn’t get his way, he goes in a huff and digs up his bed. He also sits and frowns if we stay up later than his bedtime, at which point he’ll try and nudge us upstairs. Then, he’ll follow us into our bedroom and make sure we’re tucked in on our own sides of the bed, before finally retiring to his own!

He goes in a huff

He may have some funny habits, but Dougie is the friendliest dog you’ll ever meet. There’s a stray cat that lives in our area and the two of them have become best friends, which is great as it means we can keep an eye on her and gain her trust.

Dougie can be best described as a good friend, a loyal pup and a massive bed head!

Kai struggles with eating, but his owner Sandra has always been there to help

Kai is a Boxer dog. We collected him on Valentine’s Day 2018, when he was eight weeks old. Right from the start, we thought there was something wrong as he was always sick. We took him to vets and the first x-rays told us he had a large oesophagus. Then we went to hospital for a Visio camera, and they told us he has megaesophagus, which means he can’t eat normal dog food, biscuits or anything hard. He can’t even have water.

Initially, all his food had to be blended so it was very soft, and we fed him by hand from a height so it would go down to his stomach. After feeding, he had to be held upwards for at least 20 minutes. He was fed in our arms up to five times a day.

As he got older, my husband made him his first Bailey chair, where I would feed Kai and then he would sit there for his ‘up time’. It was hard for the first couple of years but started to ease a bit in his third year. He’s now five years old, and last year he started having treats and drops of water throughout the day. He’s still fed three times a day in his chair, followed by his up time.

He's small for his age and he’s often mistaken for a puppy – he’s maybe only 50% of a normal dog’s size, but he gives us 100% love. He loves to snuggle up to us. He’s also a typical Boxer in many ways and he has all the usual traits. He knows what he wants and how to get it. We wouldn’t change him for the world.

He’s maybe only 50% of a normal dog’s size, but he gives us 100% love

Daisy brightens owner Serena’s days with an enthusiasm for life that belies her years

My Daisy! She is my absolute everything. Daisy is at the grand old age of 12 years, she is a Lhasa Apso and is quite possibly the funniest character you’ll meet. She helped me through a very rough part of my life which makes her an incredible pup.

I was experiencing over six years of struggling with infertility, Daisy has been there through it all with me and my highs and lows in life. She can calm my thoughts, make me feel I have purpose, love unconditionally and just know when to snuggle. She has a huge personality and is everybody’s friend, dog or human!

Quite possibly the funniest character you’ll meet

As she’s older, one of my favourite characteristics is how she still gets the zoomies when she is excited. She will dart around everywhere bouncing off the walls twisting and turning not even knowing her own speed. She is also the boss! Whenever she has played with others she has been the one who seems more dominant. Even if she’s faced with a Great Dane she thinks she’s a tiger, however she always wins over your heart. Daisy is the most loyal pup I have ever encountered and I hope I have very many more years to enjoy her love.

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.

The past year has been incredibly difficult for Theresa, but Bella’s been there for her every step of the way

Bella came to us at a very stressful and distressing time. At the end of October 2022, my late mum had a stroke, which sped up her dementia. A couple of weeks later, our dear dog of eight years lay down one night and left us. Whilst reeling from all this, mum and I were determined to share our home with another rescue dog.

As my mum's health deteriorated, Bella never left her side

This was when sweet, gentle Bella came into our lives. She’s a Greyhound cross and the most caring dog. As my mum's health deteriorated, Bella never left her side until she went to bed at night. After that, she would come to me.

Even when mum became totally bed-bound, Bella would sit next to her, close enough for mum to stroke her. Since mum passed, she still enjoys lying in her bedroom and spending the evenings with me.

Louise’s dog Sherman may be a giant, but his gentle nature means he’s adored by everyone in the community

We’ve had Sherman since he was a puppy, though back then I didn’t realise quite how big he would grow, both in size and personality. Sherman is an amazing dog, not only to us at home but also within our local community.

Sherman loves nothing more than attending school drop off and pick up, and if he doesn’t come, the children all ask for him. He is adored by all and constantly showered with cards, presents and more importantly, cuddles. There have been many occasions when parents have struggled to get their children to go school, but Sherman is happy to walk beside them, and that seems to be all the encouragement they need.

He is adored by all

Often, Sherman doesn’t want to leave the children, which can be quite embarrassing for me – it’s very tricky moving 12 stones of fluff! There are not enough words to describe the positive influence Sherman has had on us all. As well as looking after children, he also helps all the new puppies to become a part of our community by volunteering as a support dog, and even helps dogs who have been rescued and need socialising.