When Richard was at his lowest, he knew a dog could provide companionship – but Ginny has helped him more than he ever could have hoped.

A few years ago, I lost my wife to a battle with cancer. It had always been our dream to get a dog and so the following January, I went to my local rescue centre. My intention had always been to adopt a German Shepherd – but beautiful, brindled Ginny (who’s a Greyhound-Saluki cross) stole my heart. Two weeks later, she came to live with me.

She understands my sorrow

The amount she’s helped me to cope with the bereavement and loneliness is immeasurable. She makes me smile, she understands my sorrow and she makes friends wherever she goes.

She’s been quite the ambassador for rescue dogs, appearing on TV and in magazines as well as newspapers. She’s even been to local schools with me, to talk about pets and emotions. She really is the best companion I could ask for.

Sarah is amazed at the huge positive influence Amber and Bella have had on her family

My two dogs, Amber and Bella, have brought so much happiness to our family. They act as therapy dogs for my little boy who has severe autism. He lives in a world of his own and very rarely lets people in. Our dogs havebrought him laughter, smiles, love and a bond that’s unbreakable. With them around, he’s always giggling and interacting with us. They’ve made our lives complete.

Our dogs have brought him laughter

Maureen is so proud of the way Buddy never tires of helping other dogs

Buddy is a dog with a great nature. He has just donated blood for the 12thtime. We have been told he has saved around 50 dogs now, which is truly incredible. He's always happy to go in and do his bit, and even now when Ican't accompany him into the room, it doesn’t seem to bother him. I think it’s probably because he knows he'll get pampered by the blood bank team!

He has saved around 50 dogs

Victoria’s anxiety has often made everyday life a challenge, but Dali is always there to lighten the load

As someone who has suffered with social anxiety for many years, Dali has always been there for me, whether he’s accompanying me to shops, or sitting with me when I'm tearful.

Dali suffers from bad arthritis in his legs, so he has to travel by buggy now. But no matter what, he’s always a happy waggy dog who never leaves my side.

Dali has an amazing personality and one of his favourite things to do is sing to music! He howls away to his favourite singers, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Little Mix. He’s the best little thing to ever happen to me.

He’s the best little thing to ever happen to me

Jenny loves Clyde for many reasons, especially the way he takes care of her mum

Clyde is 12 years old, but he’s been part of our family ever since he was a little ball of fur. My dad passed away nearly 2 years ago now, and Clyde has been the most loyal and loving companion for my mum. I don’t know what she’d do without him.

He loves the rain, playing with his favourite ball and eating yummy snacks. He has arthritis in his legs and so he falls down sometimes, but while his body may be getting old, he still has the mind of a puppy. He’s constantly wagging his tail and ready to play, he’s such a happy boy.

He’s such a happy boy

Clyde enjoys nothing more than stealing your spot on the sofa as soon as you get up. If you leave even for a second, he’ll be lying there waiting for you when you come back. He’s also not keen on getting his photo taken, though he’s really photogenic, and we all utterly adore him. I think he still has the same puppy dog eyes we fell in love with all those years ago.

Debs couldn’t be without her loyal dog Vega, who does everything she can to make her owner’s life easier

Vega is my trainee Disability Assistance Dog. Lockdown has put a stop to training sessions and temporarily prevented her from becoming fully qualified, but in our home, she’s become our very own saviour.

On my bad days she stays close by my side so she can help me out. She picks up things I drop, fetches numerous ‘named’ items on request such as shoes and medication and even takes off my socks, jumpers, trousers when asked. She also does a lot to help around the house, like fetching the phone when it rings and tidying up after my two other dogs.

She’s become our very own saviour

When I’m in a lot of pain, Vega lies across my legs to comfort me. Of course, I’m not the only one she helps – my older dog, Skye, has early dementia, and when she’s having a bad day, Vega will lie with her and help to calm her down. She even knows to pick up the dog bowls after dinner time and take them to the sink!

The greatest gift Vega gives me is her company. She is always close by and I know I can rely on her when I need help. This year, we’ve both learnt to understand each other, which has really strengthened our bond. She teaches me just as much as I teach her.