Bruno has allowed Ellie and her partner to both overcome the loss of previous dogs

After losing my old dog Kai in November 2020, I was absolutely heartbroken. I couldn’t go to work, couldn’t eat or drink, my hair started to fall out – a lot. I said to myself I’d never get another dog, as I didn’t want to get heartbroken again. I met my partner in May 2021. He lost his dog in 2019 and he had the exact same problems with heartbreak.

For our one year anniversary, my partner bought me Bruno. I was so happy, I cried for hours! Since having Bruno, he has mended my heart and fixed a piece of me that was missing. He has cured my anxiety and depression, I am off my medication now for mental health. I was due to have the gastric sleeve this year, however, he has given me the motivation to go on long walks, I have lost nearly 7 stone now!

He is such an intelligent dog for nine months old

My partner is type 1 diabetic. Bruno magically knows when his sugars are high or low. He will jump all over me and won’t stop until I check my partner’s sugars, and would you believe it, they are either dangerously high or low. He is such an intelligent dog for nine months old. He is the best little man and he really deserves to be dog of the year or month as without him, I wouldn’t be here today. He truly is my little angel.

Sharon has a soft spot for Mabel the mischief maker.

Mabel is a blonde bundle of fluffy fun, with a laid-back personality. She loves everyone and she thinks that everyone automatically loves her!

She thinks that everyone automatically loves her!

I love that she is a bit of a monkey, who totally doesn’t care if she has done something wrong. She just looks at you with her big brown eyes as if to say ‘what’s the problem?’

My favourite thing to do is cuddle her, as well as teaching her new tricks. Now she can high-five, beg, give a paw and roll over.

Mary’s loveable dogs, Pippy and Mollie, have helped her to get through lockdown

I had to shield during lockdown, and I found it really hard. Without the love and care l got from Pippy, l don't think l would have made it through.She made me laugh with her funny antics, cuddled me all night and checked up on me during the day.

Basically a real-life Scooby Doo

Pippy is hilarious and obsessed with food. Not a day goes by when she doesn’t steal a spoonful of my porridge in the morning! She also loves playing with her ball and is basically a real-life Scooby Doo. If my other dog Mollie loses her ball, Pippy usually finds it and points to it with her nose so Mollie knows where it is, but sometimes, Pippy will just steal it andrun away.

The past twelve months have been so tough, but with my dogs by my side, I’ve got through it all.

Keeva has helped her owner Lyndsey to spend more quality time with her son

We got Keeva in November after a very tough few months in lockdown. Both my son and I suffer from heart problems, and Keeva really helped us to stay positive during the uncertainty of last year.

Keeva has really helped us to stay positive

Dogs were already a part of our family, as we have two Chihuahuas as well as Keeva. We adore them but they’re getting old and can’t walk far anymore. That just makes training Keeva the puppy all the more exciting. Taking her out for fresh air has kept us going and brought us closer together, and we have so many funny stories we can’t wait to share with our wider family when we can see them again.

Keeva is an Irish name which means bold and beautiful. It reminds me of my other son and his young family. They live in Ireland, so I haven’t seen them in a while, but they’re always in my thoughts.

Lynsey is so grateful for the joy Xander has brought into her life

I have a severe mental health disorder and was told that looking after a dog could improve my wellbeing. When I got Xander, I knew he would be apositive influence in my life, but I never could have guessed how much he’d change my whole world

He howls at the ice cream van

Xander has given me a purpose, helping me to get out of the house and meet new people. He always knows when I’m having a bad day, and he’ll lay his head in my lap or put his paw on my leg. It’s enough to make me feel loved.

He has so many funny quirks, like the way he howls at the ice cream van whenever we walk past. Xander also has a cheeky side, and whenever youtell him off, he barks back at you!

Louise’s dog Sherman may be a giant, but his gentle nature means he’s adored by everyone in the community

We’ve had Sherman since he was a puppy, though back then I didn’t realise quite how big he would grow, both in size and personality. Sherman is an amazing dog, not only to us at home but also within our local community.

Sherman loves nothing more than attending school drop off and pick up, and if he doesn’t come, the children all ask for him. He is adored by all and constantly showered with cards, presents and more importantly, cuddles. There have been many occasions when parents have struggled to get their children to go school, but Sherman is happy to walk beside them, and that seems to be all the encouragement they need.

He is adored by all

Often, Sherman doesn’t want to leave the children, which can be quite embarrassing for me – it’s very tricky moving 12 stones of fluff! There are not enough words to describe the positive influence Sherman has had on us all. As well as looking after children, he also helps all the new puppies to become a part of our community by volunteering as a support dog, and even helps dogs who have been rescued and need socialising.