Though Lucas finds the outside world pretty daunting, he’s always happy when he’s at home with Julie and her family

Lucas is my boy, my shadow and my fur baby, and he means the world to us. He came into our lives when he was 13 months old. We don't know an awful lot about his past, other than he had two previous homes before he found us.

At home, he’s adorable. He’s the funniest, most loving dog who greets us with a happy dance and a smile. When it comes to the outside world, he just doesn't understand it. He becomes anxious, scared and is obviously uncomfortable. We’ve done everything we can to help him through this, but after five years, we’ve decided to just follow his lead.

I always say that Lucas found us

Lucas is happiest as a sofa surfer. He likes nothing more than curling up or stretching out in the sunniest spot. When I’ve been ill, he’s been at my side. When I cry, he comforts me. When we laugh, he gets excited too.

I always say that Lucas found us, and I truly believe he did. It was only when we got him home for the first time that we realised he was born on the day that my mum passed away. He was meant to live with us, support us and love us, and we were meant to return this in abundance. He’s also the reason I started my small business. So, thank you Lucas, my child with four paws.

With Christine’s help, Freddie has gone from being terrified of humans to living a happy, healthy life

I took Freddie in when he was 13 months old. He’d been through a bad time somewhere. He’d obviously been hit or beaten, as he’d almost go through the floor if you so much as raised a hand, even to comb your hair.

He wouldn’t go to anyone, and it took two weeks to get him used to living in the house and accepting my husband. He was frightened of everything, even a peg dropping. In his view, it was best to avoid people wherever possible. But he loved his tennis ball. I kept asking men to play ball with him and this worked well. He would take the ball back to them, which was a great improvement. Then I got shingles, and we couldn’t go out, so now I need to start socialising him again.

He’s a joy to live with

Freddie actually came to me about six or seven weeks after I lost my friend Monty. I wasn’t in a good place, but Freddie helped me through that rough patch. He’s a joy to live with, although he does love to chew through his rope toys.

He sneaks into the bedroom in the early hours and ends up sleeping on the bed. He has this thing about sitting in front of me with his front paws on my lap and looking at me with those big brown eyes, which makes me melt. He’ll soon be two years old, and I can start working with him again.

Buddy brightens up gardener Josh’s working day with cheerful companionship and some good, honest graft to boot!

Buddy joined our (Josh and Catherine) lives in December 2021, after we lost our amazing Jack Russell Harry. We decided to get another Jack Russell as our life was just not complete without a dog. It was decided that Buddy would be a working dog and a companion to Josh, who runs a gardening business.

Buddy has been the missing piece

Josh works long, hard days and it can be lonely, so Buddy would be the companion he needed to brighten the days and make every day special. From 9 weeks old, Buddy went to work. He started by spending time in the work van and exploring gardens. He learnt on the job to be obedient and go where he was told. He also learnt to pick up the weeds Josh would collect and find sticks where they shouldn’t be!

Some days were cold so Josh would bring heat pads to keep him toasty and on warmer days as spring came in, he would bring ice packs to keep him cool. Buddy has been the missing piece in Josh’s life and is now celebrated by the locals and customers alike. At 7 months old now he is doing so well and continues to make every day a joy. Thank you Buddy for being so amazing!

Daisy has inspired Justine with her gentle, considerate and delightful nature

Daisy came into my life when she was 14 months old. My partner and I bought her from a family that hadn't treated her well. She was extremely nervous, but with a lot of love and patience, she blossomed into a confident, friendly, beautiful Jack Russell.

Eight months later, I went into A&E. It turned out that I had sepsis and was put into an induced coma. I was in intensive care for two months. Then, three months later, I came home.

Daisy and I needed to bond again but I was still very ill, so she couldn't sit on my knee or come too close to me anymore.

Daisy was so patient throughout it all. No one needed to tell her to what to do, she simply kept her space until I called her. When the nurses came over, she’d quietly sit in the other room – bless her!

Her lovely ways kept me alive

My partner became my carer, as well as Daisy's only walker. During this time, I was depressed and house bound, but she slept with me when I was poorly and gave me gentle kisses to cheer me up. Her lovely ways kept me alive when I wanted to end it all.

I now live on my own and she’s still a beautiful, loving, caring girl. I'm just starting to walk her again (with the help of my walker) and she’s learned how to walk beside me without ever running away.

Daisy loves it when I sing her a lullaby and she always looks so content when I tell her how pretty she is. She watches birds with amazement and her tail looks like a helicopter when she wants a treat. She loves walking with her doggy friends, and loves her own company, too.

My dear Daisy is a wonderful soul. She has all of my heart, and I thank my lucky stars that she’s in my world.

During the pandemic, Rosie turned out to be the perfect therapy for Laura’s elderly next-door neighbour

Over the past few years our dog Rosie has become a therapy pooch, albeit very much by accident! During lockdown, our widowed elderly next-door neighbour was self-isolating and very lonely. After a chat over the garden fence near the start of the pandemic, we arranged to shop for her and collect medicines etc.

She is an absolute treasure

But it was our Rosie who really improved her quality of life by visiting her and spending most days with her next door. She’d only come back home through the gate for meals, sleep and walks! Although we missed Rosie’s company, as a family of six, we realised she was providing her with the much-needed love and companionship that she was seriously lacking at that challenging time.

This relationship has subsequently continued. Now the pandemic has ended, our neighbour has sadly been diagnosed with cancer and Rosie has supported her throughout her treatment, giving her a reason to keep going. We are all back at school, college, uni and work, but Rosie continues to share her love with our lovely neighbour. Rosie will always be a positive influence in all of our lives. She is an absolute treasure, sharing her love with two homes!

Lorraine wasn’t sure about getting another dog, but from the moment she saw Suzie, she’s never looked back

I wasn't the one who wanted a dog. We'd had one many years before, and it broke our hearts when she had to be put down due to illness. But when my hubby showed me a picture of this little ball of fur (Suzie is a Toy Poodle), the first hurdle was over!

We visited her and brought her home the same day. Immediately, I was under her thumb. Suzie spends most of her days with 'Dad' and greets me as though I've been away for months, not hours. She likes her walks and playing with her ball over the big fields. She loves helping around the garden and sitting on her dad's lap for a snooze and sunbathe.

She makes home life that little bit sweeter for us all

She's with me most evenings – it's almost like we’re tied together by two feet of invisible string. We play with her favourite doughnut toy, and I've found myself reading my book out loud as if she's listening! She sleeps in her upstairs bed on the floor next to me. I always have to say ‘night night’, or she won't settle down.

She also sits in front of me, does a little wave of her paws and 'talks' when she wants attention. Suzie’s a little ball of fur that makes home life that little bit sweeter for us all.