Rescue pup Holly has come a long way since meeting owner Jill – and the best is yet to come

We were devastated by the loss of our previous dog last December, but in February we spotted Holly on a RSPCA website.

At seven months old she had never lived in a home and was very nervous. She was challenging at first, but very loving.

Holly has won over plenty of new friends

Holly has changed our lives, giving us a reason to get up in the morning and exercise regularly.

She’s energetic and fun-loving, but still a little shy when it comes to meeting new people and is occasionally spooked by new experiences.

Holly has won over plenty of new friends in the village, as they’ve witnessed her grow from a timid pup to a lovely, confident dog. We are looking forward to sharing many happy years with her!

Dea’s Doberman Ferdie is proof that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

20-week-old Ferdie was a hard decision to make honestly. We lost our previous dog three years ago and were heartbroken. He had been a rescue dog and no other could replace him. We agreed to wait until we had more time on our hands before we would consider getting another. We occasionally talked about getting a dog but that was as far as it went until we were told about some Doberman puppies. I was very reluctant as I wasn’t used to a large breed of dog and I’d heard some (incorrect) bad press stories about the Doberman dogs. My partner was more enthusiastic than I was but we decided to go and investigate. And, as they say, we never looked back!

He has given us a new lease of life

This charming boy came along at just the right time. He has given us a new lease of life. Like any puppy he’s been hard work, but we’ve been rewarded with the most gentle and soppiest of dogs. There’s not an aggressive bone in his body and he has such a lust for life. In fact, he’s got so little aggression that all his toys remain intact. He has one downfall though – he’s not keen on getting his feet wet and we live right by the sea. Even damp sand causes a disdainful look! He is a regular window ornament and likes nothing more than to lie there and watch the world go by. I have plenty of doggy nose art to clean on a daily basis!

Barney, affectionately known as Barney Bear, has been a restorative source of joy for Jacqueline

When my dad passed away in 2020, I thought I’d never smile again – he passed away from Covid and I couldn’t say goodbye to him.

Shortly after, we decided to get a puppy. My dad was a shepherd, and his Border Collie was called Barney, so I decided to call him Barney to keep Dad’s memory alive. This name soon became ‘Barney Bear’.

He’s my best friend and I smile every time I see his cute face!

Barney-Bear is a Shorkie, and to say he changed my life would be an understatement. He mended my broken heart and taught me how to smile again.

After being my dad’s full-time carer, I’ve found purpose in my life again. I’ve also taught Barney-Bear how to do lots of fun tricks. My personal favourite is his silent bark (he’ll bark silently on command if he gets a treat). He’s my best friend and I smile every time I see his cute face!

He saved me from a very dark place, and I love him dearly for it.

Nymeria has been through a lot, but Tabitha is in constant awe of how she takes everything in her stride

I’ve had Nym since she was just a puppy, and since then she has remained closely by my side. When she was younger, I taught her lots of tricks such as rolling, walking on her hind legs and pirouetting. She has got me through many tough times with her calm demeanour and cosy cuddles.

She very quickly grasped how to live with her blindness

In early 2020, Nym went suddenly and completely blind. She started running into things and became much more nervous. Fortunately, she’s a sweet and trusting dog, so she very quickly grasped how to live with her blindness, learning new words such as ‘careful’ and ‘step’. Now she’s used to navigating using her sense of smell and hearing and has even memorised the layout of the house as well as our regular walking routes, so she can get around with confidence.

I love my dog just as much now as the day I got her. I wouldn't change her for the world.

She may be tiny, but Poppet has made a huge difference in Sasha’s life, from making her laugh to helping with her mental health struggles

Poppet is a tiny Chihuahua but has the biggest heart and the craziest, most infectious personality.

She never fails to make me laugh, whether she’s zooming across the landing to air dry herself after the bath, leapfrogging over people in the park who then unexpectedly find a Chihuahua in their lap, or falling in love with the new neighbours!

I find nothing more fulfilling than sharing my life with her

Poppet makes everyone smile. I have been in a very dark place with my mental health and sometimes it’s a struggle to get out of bed, but Poppet always makes my day worthwhile.

I honestly find nothing more fulfilling than sharing my life with her. It gives me a purpose. She’s not just my dog, she’s my best friend and I don’t do anything without her!

Billy was a scaredy cat when he first met his owner Rachel, but now he’s gone through a complete transformation

We rescued Billy when he was seven months old and were already his third owners.

Due to being kept in a cage, he smelled pretty bad when we first met him. But now, he’s gone from being frightened of everything (even the wind!) to being a lovely, funny and confident little boy who brings us great pleasure.

Who needs slippers?

He’s such a clever little thing and he’s a delight to train. In fact, he can do lots of tricks! I love nothing more than settling down for the evening with him lying on my feet, because who needs slippers?

This picture is one of my favourites. Here, he’s just had a good brushing and his ears are full of static!