Ruby and her dog Tony are total opposites – and that makes them the perfect companions

Tony, a scruffy little Brussels Griffon pup, has completely changed my life since I brought him home four months ago. As a visibly physically disabled person, I was always aware of people looking at me when I was out and about, but now it's Tony who gets all the attention – which both he and I love!

He brings a smile to my face

He's given me a reason to get up and out in the morning. He brings a smile to my face every time I look at him, even when he appears with my shoes, socks or even my coat in his mouth, and I cannot imagine life without him.

He's a real 'Velcro' dog and I wouldn't have him anywhere other than right by my side – even when his chosen sleeping place at night is on my head!

Skip went through a lot before he was rescued, but now he’s living his best life with a new prosthetic leg and plenty of love from Carly

Skip is a rescued Spanish Galgo. We’ve had him for just over a year. He was found chained up in a derelict barn, with just bread rolls around him that he’d been eating. He was also missing the lower part of a back leg.

A charity took him on, but he was incredibly nervous and unsure around people. They think his leg had been caught in a snare trap – who knows how long he had been like that.

He walks on the new leg as if it was his own

The only options were to amputate the leg or have a prosthetic made. I’m a vet nurse and I work in canine rehabilitation, so we made the decision to try the prosthetic. It was made bespoke for Skip by an amazing company in America and he hasn’t looked back.

Now, he walks on the new leg all the time, as if it was his own. Though he’s still shy at times, he’s grown so much in confidence, and he helps us raise funds for the charity who rescued him.

As Lynn and her family settle into a new life, Winnie has been helping them socialise more

We adopted Winnie after she was rescued for crying at nine weeks old. She’s a very funny and outgoing dog who thinks she’s a celebrity and expects everyone who walks past her to acknowledge how pretty she is (or she will make a strange noise at them!). She also hates getting her feet wet and prefers to sleep under a duvet.

She has made a very positive difference in our lives

Winnie helped us to get out every day and meet other dog walkers and villagers, who have now become firm friends – and many of the elderly residents now carry dog biscuits in their pockets in case they see her. She has made a very positive difference in our lives and helped us settle into our new chapter in the North East, where we didn’t know anyone.

Pebble came into Linda’s life exactly when she needed her, and she’s made every day a little brighter since

Pebble is my little furry rock. When I lost my husband to cancer, the loneliness was so hard to bear. So, after a lot of research and talking to friends, I decided to look for a puppy. I came across a litter of Beddlington Whippets – the mum was a first cross Beddlington Whippet and the dad was a full pedigree Whippet.

Pebble was one of nine in the litter – two others were smooth-haired like her, while the other six were rough-coated. I fell for her the first moment I saw her at six weeks old. When she was old enough to leave her mum, she came to live with me and has been my constant companion ever since.

I fell for her the first moment I saw her

She's fun, makes me laugh every day and gets me out of the house. I now have plenty of exercise and stop to chat to so many people who marvel at how fast she is. In the evenings we cuddle on the sofa, and she gets into some of the most unusual goofy positions.

We go away together in my campervan and have attended many fun dog shows, country fairs and other charity events – she’s so pretty, she’s done well in many of the shows. She does also have her quirks, like recently she became scared of a new water bowl! And she’s nosey, so she’s been known to walk into fences and walls because she’s turning to look behind her. She’s the very best dog in the world and always brings a smile to my face.

The joy that Lottie brought to Kerry’s life inspired her to start an online group to brighten other dog-lovers’ days too

Lottie has had such a positive impact on my life in every way. I was diagnosed with cerebrovascular disease and the doctor said I needed to try and live a happy, stress-free life. After a couple of years of researching dog breeds, we chose a Shih Tzu and here she is!

She’s changed the lives of our whole family massively. Personally, I’ve really benefited from the extra exercise and her calming influence. I have to take tablets each day but Lottie is definitely a pill I couldn’t live without! A dog is the best medicine.

She also brings such joy to our extended family with her love and attention. She greets everyone with a kiss and a cuddle, or rolls over for a tummy tickle! I can’t get out of bed in the morning without a Lottie cuddle – she doesn’t allow it. Lottie isn’t really one for tricks but chasing and fetching balls is one of her favourite things.

A dog is the best medicine

And she hasn’t just brought joy to us. I work in a school office and, after one particularly bad day during the pandemic, I came home, sat on the sofa with a cup of tea and Lottie next to me, and thought ‘I need something else to distract me from work.’

So, in January 2021, Barking Mad Cheshire came alive. It’s a group for dog lovers and businesses, and a year later I’ve got over 4,500 members. The joy and positivity that Lottie and the other dogs in the group have brought to so many people is unbelievable. I’ve received a number of messages saying how the group has helped people during sad times and got them through difficult days, especially during the pandemic.

Lottie is such a joy and I can’t imagine my life without her. She’s a loving, loyal little dog.

Lilly is affectionate and easy to love, and she’s changed Joy’s life for the better

I re-homed Lilly three months ago from a breeder, and to me, she’s simply the best.

I was feeling quite lonely as I now live by myself, but she brings me so much joy every day.

She brings me so much joy

She always wants lots of tickles and strokes, and she walks really well when we go out with my mobility scooter. We have plenty of funny moments together and it makes me laugh so much when she barks to have the fan on her.

Lilly is also perfectly calm – until she sees any delivery men!

Because of her, I’m no longer lonely.