From his funny quirks to his winning smile, Mylo has brought nothing but joy into Liam’s life

I rescued Mylo from Spain when he was a pup. Ever since the first day he moved over, he’s never not had a smile on his face. He’s such a positive influence in my life, as his happiness takes away all the negativity.

He’s such a positive influence in my life

He has such a funny habit when I have a cup of tea. He sits there, waiting to make sure he gets a bit at the end. And if I tell him ‘no’, oh the back chat I get!

Mylo also has lots of love to give, as I rescued another dog called Oscar, and Mylo takes care of him like a brother.

Lexi came into Frank’s life after he suffered a stroke five years ago, and since then she’s made even his darkest days that little bit brighter

I’ve been a dog lover since I was a kid. I grew up with at least one Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound or Miniature Schnauzer always around. But my wife was not a dog-lover, nor had she grown up with any pets. I had resigned myself to the fact that I would not be having any dogs in my married life.

Five years ago, I had a stroke. It came out of the blue and suddenly my life was turned upside down. Two months afterwards, my wife had one of these ‘lightbulb moments’ and thought getting a dog would be good for my recovery. In life, when there is a window of opportunity, you have to grab it with both hands, so I certainly didn't argue! A few weeks later, we brought home the most gorgeous Jack Russell puppy, who we decided to name Lexi.

She helps alleviate my stress and anxiety on those dark days

Lexi has been a hugely positive influence in my life. She’s a loyal companion who’s always there for me. When my wife is working and our children are at school, Lexi is the one who gets me through the days. Every day comes with its own challenges for me. My life is governed by my stroke fatigue, but Lexi gets me out of bed and walking.

Often, if we haven't been out, Lexi will still try to get me to move my legs by dropping a tennis ball at my feet, encouraging me to kick the ball so she can fetch it. She helps alleviate my stress and anxiety on those dark days and gives me confidence that things can get better. She also knows when I freeze up, so if I stay in the same position without moving my face or body, she starts barking at me.

She’s loved by everyone in the house, including my wife. When we got Lexi, my wife was adamant that she would strictly be a downstairs dog. Today, not only is Lexi allowed in the bedroom, but she spends most nights sleeping on our bed! And our children can’t stop kissing and tickling her.

My stroke has been challenging for everyone in our house, but Lexi has been the silver lining that comes with every cloud! She has brought immense joy to us all and is a reminder that light can come out of darkness.

Tan’s dog Sally didn’t have the best start in life, but she still manages to find the sunshine in every day

We adopted Sally from a rescue charity called Wolfies Legacy.She was originally a street dog in Tunisia where she suffered a gun wound. Both of her front elbows were severely damaged, and as she didn’t have access to a vet, her front legs ended up becoming set in a bent, upright position.

Despite all she’s been through, Sally is the most loving and trusting dog you could ever wish to meet.She's adapted to walking on her elbows, which we pad to protect, and can sit on her hind legs when she’s begging for treats or if she wants to be picked up. She’s incredibly fast when she wants to be and knows how to jump and hop at speed.

She’s a dog that lives for the moment

We run a home-boarding dog business and Sally is our guidance dog for all the new arrivals.She is super friendly and always makes them feel safeand welcome. Some dogs are a little puzzled by her, as they can't quite figure out why she won't run around with them, but we've noticed how easily they learn to play in ways that accommodate her. It’s truly heart-warming to watch how the dogs interact, accept and embrace Sally’s disabilities.

Being unable to walk very far hasn't stopped Sally from loving life and exploring. We take her out in her buggy every day, and she loves nothing more than to watch the world go by. She’s a dog that lives for the momentand enjoys everything life offers her. Having Sally is a constant reminder that life is what you make it.

Now his racing career is over, Rebel is finally getting to enjoy life to the full thanks to Sophie

Rebel is everything to us! As first-time dog owners, we were so nervous about getting a pet, but we knew rescuing a Greyhound was the right choice. Just a few days before we were due to pick him up, he'd been attacked in the rescue centre so came to us full of bites and stitches – a great way to get to know our lovely local vets!

Judging by Rebel's scars from his racing days, it's clear he's had a tough life before retirement. But we are determined to teach him to just enjoy life. He now takes full ownership of the sofa and bed, wakes us up by rooing and teeth chattering in the morning, and can't get enough of his toys and snacks.

He’s the most perfect, loving dog who has completely changed our lives for the better. Of course, he still enjoys running in an enclosed field to impress us!

We are determined to teach him to just enjoy life

Carmen has been Wendy’s saviour during lockdown, but she hasn’t got the hang of video calls just yet...

Carmen is my Canine Partner, who’s been with me for just over a year now. She’s a beautiful Golden Retriever with the longest fluffy tail.

My dog helps me with tasks around the house. If I stop breathing at night, she wakes my husband by jumping on the bed, and is even trained to use an emergency phone to call an ambulance.

She is extremely caring but also has a wild side

She is extremely caring but also has a wild side and goes crazy on the beach. I think she’s trying to dig her way to Australia! The way she runs and plays, it’s hard to believe she’s the same calm girl that helps me through every day.

Carmen used to be a school reading dog, which she loved. She always looked as though she understood every word the children were saying. Now the reading classes take place over a video call, and Carmen always tries to get behind my laptop to see if the children are actually there behind the screen.

I don’t know how I’d have coped with lockdown without Carmen by my side. She is my angel and I love her to bits.

Emma’s brain condition makes everyday tasks difficult, but Luna always helps her out when she needs it

I’ve had Luna since she was eight weeks old. Even though she’s been a crazy one from the start, she’s also been a godsend for me. I have a brain condition that affects me daily, and it also means I struggle with my back. I have more bad days than good, and Luna has noticed this as she has got older.

She’s been a godsend for me

I think because I’m the only one who walks and feeds her, we have a very strong bond. If she sees me struggling to get up when I’m in pain, she’ll come and grab the cuff of whatever I'm wearing and pull me up. If I'm having to walk slow when we’re out, she’ll walk slowly by my side.

Sometimes if I'm having a bad moment of sleepiness and have to lean on something, Luna will come over and nudge me from behind or appear beneath me and stand up to help me up. I know when she’s just being a playful pup, but I can also tell when she’s being genuinely caring and trying to help me.