Emily overcame a traumatic start in life to find the perfect home with Abby and her husband

Emily is a very affectionate little soul, which is quite remarkable considering how she started life. She was found left for dead in the middle of nowhere and was malnourished to a tiny 10kg. With thanks to the RSPCA, she got to a proper weight for a lurcher and now she gets spoilt rotten at home!

Her faith in humanity, after everything she has been through, gives me hope

Her faith in humanity, after everything she has been through, gives me hope. I'll never get tired of her pretty little face or her chaotic whippet-sized zoomies around the garden. She's helped me make human friends and made my husband and I more active. Not to mention, she convinced us to rescue another mistreated lurcher!

Eddie the adorable rescue has completed Julie’s happy family

Our daughter had been asking us to get a dog since she was young, and we finally gave in after losing both of our cats. When we got him, Eddie had already been named after the Jack Russell on the show Frasier, and it suited him so much we didn't change it.

He has the same amount of energy as he did when we first got him, always providing us with lots of laughter. His favourite activity is jumping up to catch the bubbles I blow for him. If I go into the cupboard they’re stored in, he gives a high pitched, excited bark and runs into the room. 

When I garden, he copies exactly what I’m doing

When I garden, he copies exactly what I’m doing. If I dig, he digs, which is often really useful, but if I prune, he grabs hold of the plant and pulls it out, which isn’t so ideal! When I’m watering the plants, he always jumps in front of me and tries to drink straight from the hose.

Eddie has so many more funny habits, like the way he barks at animals on the TV. It’s got to the point where I can't watch a nature programme unless he's asleep. He really is a funny, adorable and very unique dog.

Life hasn’t been easy for Abbie, but since Obi came along, he’s made every day feel that little bit brighter

I have a chronic illness, so I suffer daily with chronic pain and fatigue. For a long time, I was depressed and really not enjoying life. But then I got Obi...

He’s the absolute light of my life. My rock. My therapist. My best friend. I couldn't be without him. I knew getting a crazy Border Collie was going to be a challenge alongside living with a chronic illness, but he's been the best decision I've ever made. He gives me purpose. He gives me a reason to get out of bed on a morning. The minute I see his little face waiting for me downstairs, I feel a little less tired and a little less sore.

He gives me a reason to get out of bed on a morning

He's helped me meet so many lovely people in the village where we live, some who have become great friends. I love our long walks through the countryside, our trips to the beach (followed by ice cream, of course) and snuggling on the sofa when the weather isn't so great.

I love his craziness, his will to live, the way he shakes his butt when he gets scratches. His long tongue that he can't keep in his mouth, his cheeky smile, his one-up one-down ears, his beautiful eyes. His 'taps' when you're eating something that he really wants, the way he bounces up and down waiting for me to throw his ball, his wrestling sessions with his best friend Yoshi, his obsession with water and mud (usually the two mixed together), the way he sits and laps up the attention when the village kids come to give him cuddles. I love all of this and more.

He's my gentle giant. Always along for the ride – the highs and the lows. He makes me laugh, brings me joy, teaches me how to live freely and love unconditionally. I don't own him, he owns me.

Claude has been through a lot in his short life, so Charlotte always makes sure she gives him enough love to make up for it

Claude has a lovely spoilt life because he’s had so many illnesses since he was a pup, including parvovirus, reactions to injections, SRMA, IMPA, allergies, and various infections caused by the steroid treatment for his immune system illnesses. On top of that, he’s even had a dew claw injury and removal, and now IBS.

Despite all this, Claude is the happiest and loveliest dog, who always cheers us up and keeps us entertained. He’s a sock and underwear thief and such a character.

He also rules the roost, so he does what he wants, when he wants, whether that’s waking up in the morning, or spreading out on the sofa, beds and anywhere else. He also likes to help with gardening, hoovering and any cleaning!

He does what he wants, when he wants

Ever since Scout’s life was saved as a puppy, Tracey has been working hard to put that kindness back out into the world

I didn’t know how much I needed Scout until he crash-landed (literally) into my arms as a puppy. Abandoned on the streets and left to fend for himself, he was eventually picked up and taken to a pound. He was emaciated, suffering from mange and kennel cough, and believed to be both blind and deaf, so they thought it might be kinder to put him to sleep. After all, who would want a puppy with so many problems?

Luckily, thanks to the heroic efforts of three amazing rescue organisations, Scout’s life was saved. We were lucky enough to adopt him a short time later and he turned our world upside down. Although he’s not deaf, he’s completely blind, but this hasn’t held him back in the slightest. He climbs mountains, paddles in the sea and runs freely with his canine pals.

Throughout Scout’s life, we’ve been on a mission to repay the kindness that was shown to him as a puppy. For instance, he’s been a much-loved therapy dog, visiting a local dementia care home to spread joy and love. He’s also the adopted mascot for a local community carers café.

Over the years, Scout has helped to raise thousands of pounds for a local dog rescue, attending meet and greets, street collections, and lending a paw on tombola stalls. During lockdown, he managed to raise £500 by fronting an online dog show. He’s also attended Crufts several times, supporting anti-puppy farming campaigns, and even helping to launch a charity foundation.

Scout gave me my life back. After my first dog was tragically killed by another dog on a walk, I developed severe anxiety about walking outside, but owning Scout made me strong. I’m his eyes, so he needs me to be confident and unafraid, and keep him safe. Out and about, he always puts a smile on people’s faces with his quirky high-stepping gait – a result of his blindness. Scout is my inspiration, my hero and my best friend.

He always puts a smile on people’s faces

London the dog was the most meaningful gift Verity could have ever received, and she is forever grateful for him

My mum bought London for me in the summer of 2017. I went all the way to Germany to collect him. She was so happy with our new puppy – he was sweet and gentle with all our other dogs. Mum knew that I would enjoy showing him off at dogs shows, talking him for long walks and grooming him.

She also knew that she wouldn’t be with me for much longer. By November, she had passed and I was devastated. But having London gave me the strength to carry on. Just as she’d hoped, I went out for walks and took him to dog shows – he gave me a reason to keep going, day in, day out.

Gave me the strength to carry on

London was patient with my tears, staying by my side throughout everything. Now, slowly and gently, he guides me through life. From the moment I get up in the morning to the moment I arrive home from work, he’s always there for me. Recently, he became a father to a wonderful puppy called Aster, who has been like a shining light of hope for the whole family this year.

My dog London truly is the gift that keeps on giving. He enhances my existence every day, and I couldn’t be without him.