Life has thrown some challenges in Scott’s way, but with Archie by his side, there’s nothing he can’t overcome.

Last year I retired from my job for medical reasons and was feeling pretty down. Thankfully, Archie the four-year-old Labrador came to the rescue by becoming my companion dog.

Archie brightens up every day

Since we’ve all been spending much more time at home recently, he’s been a godsend to me and brings a smile to my face every day. When I'm lying in bed he’ll come up and lay beside me, and if he can sense I’m feeling down he’ll give me lots of cuddles. He even throws in a few licks as well, just to show how much he loves me. He gets plenty of belly tickles and affection in return, of course!

Archie brightens up every day and has improved my quality of life, especially this past year when things have been so different.

Poppy is an important and treasured member of Vicki’s family. Life simply wouldn’t be the same without her

Poppy has been my little ray of sunshine through some pretty tough times. She never fails to make me smile, no matter what’s going on in my life. She is also the apple of my husband’s eye, and was a big part of our wedding – she wore her flower collar with pride and posed perfectly for all the photos!

She makes us laugh every day

We welcomed a baby into our lives in 2019, who has since become a typical toddler. He adores Poppy just as much as we do, and calls her his little ‘Poppy dog’. She really is the gentlest and most understanding dog I’ve ever known. Sadly, she’s battled with arthritis for many years now and has also ruptured her ligament, so we’ve had to swap her field-sprints for some slow and steady pram-walks, but I don’t think she minds too much.

She makes us laugh every day, particularly because she thinks we don’t know that she steals the cat’s biscuits the minute we go to bed – unfortunately for her, she’s clumsy and always knocks the big bowl over, which gives her away every time! Poppy is our crazy pup, always full of energy and ready to play, especially when there are bubbles and balloons involved. She is my constant companion and best friend.

Rose doesn’t get away with much when Finn’s around, but that’s what makes him so adorable

My Border Collie Finn never fails to make me smile. He adores the TV and will watch any animal programme, but he especially loves adverts with animals in them. As soon as one comes on, he’ll grab one of his many toys and start prancing around in front of the screen, barking loudly.

Finn seems to have an internal clock

Finn seems to have an internal clock, and he always gets restless around his mealtimes. If you miss the mark, he’ll badger you until you feed him! He also knows when I usually go to bed and will often sit and stare at me when it’s around that time, as if he’s saying goodnight.

He’s so funny and makes us laugh every single day, like when he tries to avoid puddles on our walks by doing a little sidestep dance, or when he helps his dad out with the gardening by doing some digging.

For NHS mental health worker Kathleen, her new little bundle of joy is the perfect tonic

I have wanted a puppy since I moved out of my family home at 18 years old. Me and my partner have only just bought our first house. We couldn’t wait, so have got a puppy and he has just made our house a home.

He is the best decision we have ever made!

Since we have had him he has settled straight in. He brightens up our day as he is very talkative and always talks back when he is told off and it’s adorable. The main thing that we love about him is that he refuses to walk when me and my partner are apart. He only likes to go for a walk when we are together and he walks between us. He just brings us together and is hilarious as he is very curious, but is a bit chicken.

He just helps make us laugh all the time and comfort us during lockdown, especially me as I work in mental health for the NHS. People say it was a mistake to get a dog so soon after moving and working on the house as it’s a lot of responsibility and pressure, but he is the best decision we have ever made!

Ellie completes Margaret’s family, and she is always there for them like they are for her.

Ellie has been with us since she was nine weeks old. She was an RSPCA rescue dog. She is a Staffie Cross, the smallest of five puppies who we fell in love with on first seeing. She isn’t a pet to us, she is our family member.

She is our family member

She has helped me personally through many difficult times — on bad days after losing my precious dad, and when I was diagnosed with breast cancer she never left my side from start to finish of my treatment. She understands our every thought and makes us laugh every day. We always say that she doesn’t think she is a dog!

She has many medical problems herself to overcome but we have always been there for her, like she has us. Life would just not be the same without her.

Bramble likes to help Julie in more ways than one – but one thing she won’t get involved with is the weekly shopping run!

Bramble is a Registered Assistance Dog. She helps me in my day-to-day life with tasks like retrieving objects and pulling the washing out of the machine. Shopping, however, is not something she enjoys. Every time we pull up to the supermarket, she’ll look out of the car to see which one we’re at, and if it’s one she doesn't like it, she’ll just sit there and refuse to come in!

She’ll just sit there and refuse to come in!

Bramble was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. She loves to give me cuddles and has helped to build up my confidence. Now, I can do more things own my own, and she even encourages me to stop and speak to people I wouldn't normally chat with.