Raven’s dog Pixie might be getting older, but she’s still got the same zest for life she’s had since she was a puppy

Pixie is a feisty, scruffy little black Border Terrier Miniature Poodle cross. Her well-earned nickname as a puppy was Taz, after the Tasmanian Devil, as she was a whirlwind of destruction. Keeping her well plied with toys saved our own toys and furniture!

Pixie has only ever known love and comfort

She’s a very sweet little dog, who loves everybody, even the family cat. Despite being 15 years old, she’s still very agile and lively with no stiffness. She still loves her favourite toy – a squeaky, startled baked potato that she’s had since she was a puppy.

Pixie has only ever known love and comfort, and she’s a great snuggler at night. She’s family.

Whether he’s playing with his toys or cuddling up to her on the sofa, Diesel makes every day happier for Lynda

Diesel is a rescue who we’ve had for just over a year. He helps me with my depression, and he’s the reason I get up in the morning.

He’s the reason I get up in the morning

He’s so loving, and he loves nothing more than cuddling up on the sofa. He also enjoys learning new tricks, playing with his toys, and unwrapping his gifts at Christmas, or on his Gotcha Day (the day we got him from the rescue).

Whenever he goes out for a walk, he loves to say ‘hi’ to other people and dogs. My life wouldn’t be the same without Diesel.

Albie likes to keep owner Cheryl on her toes, but that’s just part of his charm

Albie, aka the naughtiest dog in the world, shares his infectious happinesswith everyone. He is an adventurer and a born explorer. As soon as his nose starts sniffing, you know you are in for a journey!

He’s attended picnics, football matches and fitness classes

His past exploits have included running into the local supermarket for breakfast, trying to swim to France and joining in with the local paddleboarder and swimmers. He’s attended picnics, football matches and fitness classes, and once even tried to jump into a stranger’s car! He’s also a bit of a treasure hunter and finds all sorts of things on his walks.

Life is never dull with Albie around, and if you’re feeling sad, he’ll lift your spirits back up. I may have given him a home, but he’s brought me a purpose and endless happiness.

Katie rescued Selma from Romania, and it’s changed both of their lives for the better

I rescued selma from Romania when she was seven months but everyone in my life will agree that it’s her that did the saving. I was in a really bad place in my life mentally and physically and this little angel on four legs got me up and out every day.

She gives me cuddles and makes me laugh constantly. She was the best decision I could have made for my mental health and continues to be an absolute ray of sunshine in my life. She wakes me up in the morning by literally jumping on me repeatedly and makes the strangest little pigeon noise whenever she wants a walk or food or even just attention.

She wakes me up in the morning by literally jumping on me repeatedly

She is a rascal and cheeky but the little cuddly sheep gets away with it. You know when she’s upset as her curly tail unfurls down to the floor and her very cute ears (one up, one down!) go flat. She’s got zero idea of personal space and loves to intently smell everyone’s mouths to know what they’ve been up to. She’s nothing but a positive influence in my life. The greatest gift that I can’t believe is mine.

Through helping her dog Tara to come out of her shell, Sharon has learned how important it is to look after herself

Three years ago, I decided to adopt a rescue dog. Fate led me to a forlorn little puppy who had been saved from a life of cruelty – her name was Tara.

It was a bumpy start. She was totally terrified and barely moved, having been mute the whole 12-hour car journey home. But with time, a lot of patience and unconditional love from me and my two gentle cats, she started to come out of her shell. She took two weeks to bark and it was months before she could sleep on her own, but slowly, her confidence grew and her beautiful fun, cuddly character emerged. She still prefers other animals to humans, but if you give her the time to get to know you, gaining her love and affection is a feeling like no other.

Together, we’ll walk through life

Adopting Tara has changed my life. I have Type 1 diabetes, which brings with it a realm of challenges. By focusing on protecting this vulnerable little pup and working to make her happy, I was distracted from my own dark thoughts. Through her I met fantastic new people in my area and got out and about, spending my days walking in nature instead of hiding at home.

Now we are a team and together, we’ll walk through life, looking out for each other and helping each other to grow. We are both the perfect example of how much good comes from accepting imperfection, and celebrating differences.

With Heather’s help, Benji has transformed from a poorly, neglected pup into a loving, healthy pooch

Benji is a Fox Red Labrador, who arrived with us in lockdown 2020. He was only 10 months old, and he’d spent a lot of that time locked up in a puppy crate with owners who didn’t have a garden or any time for him. He was an impulse buy they regretted, and they didn’t know how to look after him.

As a result, he chewed everything he could to relieve the boredom and anxiety. He suffered from gut problems and conjunctivitis, and he was generally an unhappy boy. After a bit of settling in and some training, he’s now nearly four years old and he’s a wonderful, happy, inquisitive, loving dog.

He keeps me company when I’m working and lets me know when I’ve been sitting too long and it’s time for a walk. He's also trained me to fetch his ball when he chucks it from the top of the stairs so I can throw it back. Unfortunately, he thinks other items can also be chucked, such as the odd bone, which has a harder landing on the tiled floor!

He adores swimming and has been known to become immovable and scream loudly in a tantrum when asked to leave a lovely beach. If you ask him what good boys do, he’ll immediately sit down on the floor, waiting for a tasty reward.

He’s a wonderful, happy, inquisitive, loving boy

He gives me dog kisses (with no licking) to show he’s my buddy, and belly rubs are obligatory before breakfast. He’s got me walking, enjoying the outdoors, making new dog owner friends, and generally loving my life more because he’s in it.