Not only has Ferdie been a constant support for Clair for many years, but he’s also helped her foster a range of other animals

Ferdie is a very gentle whippet who has helped foster puppies, cats and guinea pigs over the years. He has always been so kind, especially to cats. When a new foster kitten or cat gets introduced to Ferdie, he lets them get used to him in their own time. He doesn’t mind whether they want to leap on him and hold onto his neck, or just cuddle him.

His best friend is Otto – an abused cat who finds people really scary. Otto isn’t good at sitting with other cats, but he loves Ferdie and they often sit in an arm chair together. Ferdie is also very gentle with my guinea pigs, and he’s even helped two puppies, who came from very challenging situations, as we got them ready for their forever home.

He’s helped foster puppies, cats and guinea pigs

In his spare time, Ferdie likes sleeping, sleeping and more sleeping. He can regularly be found buried under a sofa throw, no matter how hot it is. He’s a great companion for me, and if I’m upset, he starts whining because he knows I’m struggling. Then when I lose something, he’s always by my side trying to help me find it.

Ferdie is starting to slow down now and I’m having to deal with the realisation that he may not be here much longer. I don’t think I’ll ever meet another dog like him – he’s a dog in a million.

Whether Mishka is stealing clothes or making people smile, she always brightens Samantha’s day

Mishka is my beautiful seven-year-old British Timber Dog. She was the world's naughtiest puppy and managed to destroy three sofas and hundreds of socks in her younger days, but it just made her all the more adorable.

Mishka brings a smile to everyone

Unfortunately, she’s been unwell over the past few years, but she’s still the sweetest, most affectionate girl. Mishka brings a smile to everyone and is adored by her family. When we’re out and about she manages to make friends with strangers, who always seem happy to be greeted with such a cute bundle of fluff.

This last year has been tough for us all, and we’re so proud of the way Mishka has helped people to smile through even the most challenging of times.

Rosie makes every day brighter for Jane and her family

Rosie, who was born on the summer solstice, lights up the room without saying a word. She’s at her happiest when she’s running along the beach chasing the birds, though she never actually catches any. Rosie loves to skip over rocks and never slips, no matter how much seaweed there is.

She’s ginger, fluffy and loyal

She’s ginger, fluffy and loyal, and our whole family absolutely adores her. All of us have a picture of her saved as our screensaver, and she’s definitely the favourite family member. She’s taught us love, loyalty and trust and that’s something we will always be grateful for.

From her clumsy nature to her friendship with the family kitten, Wulfwynn has brought endless joy, love and laughter to Em’s life

Wulfwynn enhances the lives of myself, my husband and our young son with her affection and antics. As an Irish Wolfhound, she is completely unaware of her size, and clumsiness is definitely the order of the day. She trips over her own legs, bumps into things, and insists on trying to sit on our laps, despite being far taller than I am on her hind legs, let alone our son!

She can be a bit of a mess too, always emerging from the woods covered in leaves and twigs! However, all this awkwardness disappears when she reaches the ferns on the edge of the woods during our daily walks. Then, she flies like a bird, leaping and bounding through the undergrowth – a thing of beauty and elegance.

She insists on trying to sit on our laps, despite being far taller than I am on her hind legs

She is particularly funny with our Bengal kitten. They are definitely partners in crime. Montmorency the kitten knocks things off the piano so that Wulfwynn can chew them! They chase each other round the garden, play-fight (Montmorency giving as good as he gets), and then curl up together.

One morning, when Montmorency was still a tiny kitten, and Wulfwynn was already coming into her full size, we came down to find that we had accidentally shut both animals in the kitchen together overnight. Wulfwynn was lying on the hard floor, looking aggrieved, while the kitten was sprawled luxuriously on the huge dog bed, looking smug with satisfaction! Such joy, such love, and so many laughs!

Having finally recovered from her traumatic start in life, Sky is living happily ever after as part of Sue’s family

Sky came to us in June 2021. She was rescued from a shelter in Romania. As a tiny puppy, she had suffered a burn to her side and a broken back, so she was paralysed when she was found in a kill shelter. Sky was rescued by a lovely lady who ran a private shelter. She nursed her and cared for her, and gradually her mobility began to improve. We knew Sky was going to be a cheeky girl as she was housed with a litter of very young puppies in the shelter, and despite her problems, she decided she preferred their bed to her own. So, she pushed them out and moved herself in!

Sky arrived with her brother, Albert, after a two-day journey by land, and they were both incredibly frightened and anxious. But she’s developed good mobility over the last year and her confidence has improved alongside her health. Her zoomies are wonderful and so energetic, considering how she was when she first came home. She is bigger than Albert and will push him over if he has something she wants! She also takes over his bed and will eat his breakfast if she gets the chance. But Albert doesn't mind, and we make sure he doesn't miss out.

We take life at her pace

Sky loves lamb spaghetti and real meat treats best of all. She’s a very quick learner, and she knows how to catch a treat or tap with her foot. If she gets hold of a squeaky toy, she will squeak it a couple of times by jumping on it with her front feet and then howl like a wolf! She also loves hugs and sitting next to us.

We take life at Sky's pace, slowly enough to keep her safe and secure. With some brilliant expert help, she’s adapted to life with us and is a wonderful, sweet, sensitive addition to our family. We can't imagine life without Sky and Albert.

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.