Sarah loves Chester for many reasons, from his joyful nature to his adorable love for singing

Chester is more than just a pet; he's a constant source of joy and positivity in my life. His gentle nature and boundless energy bring warmth to every room he enters. No matter how tough a day has been, his wagging tail and eager eyes are enough to lift my spirits.

Perhaps one of the quirkiest and most delightful things about him is his love for music, particularly when I play the harmonica. The moment he hears the first note, he can’t help but join in, singing along with the tune. His ‘singing’ is a mix of howls and soft barks, perfectly timed with the melody. It’s as if he’s pouring his heart into the song, adding his own unique voice to the music.

His ‘singing’ is a mix of howls and soft barks, perfectly timed with the melody

Chester’s presence is incredibly calming. On stressful days, just sitting next to him and stroking his fur is enough to bring me a sense of peace and grounding. He seems to instinctively know when I need comfort, often resting his head on my lap and looking up with those understanding eyes.

In many ways, he is a role model. His capacity to love unconditionally, his zest for life, and his ability to find joy in the simplest things are qualities I strive to emulate. He has taught me the value of patience, the importance of living in the moment, and the power of a positive outlook.

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.

Jennifer’s daughter was really struggling after she had to leave school due to her autism – but that all changed when Willow came along

My daughter, now 15, has been home-schooled since she was 11. For a little context, she has autism, so secondary school really took a toll on her mental health. The constant overstimulation would leave her tired for days on end. Eventually she couldn't continue at the school, so we had to take her out.

About a year ago, things were getting quite bad. She was barely showering or cleaning herself, she wasn’t leaving the house due to rising anxiety, and she really wasn’t the happy little girl I know and love. She’s always had a connection with animals, and her love for them has been a coping mechanism, so we got her Willow.

We’re currently planning to get her trained to be an assistance dog for my daughter

To say this bettered her life is a massive understatement. Willow is a playful pooch. She’ll bring you a toy anytime to try to get you to play. She loves to play tug with anything. She likes it when we sit on the floor and throw dog biscuits for her to chase and eat. She also enjoys bringing us bones to hold while she chews them – it's often stinky, but it's how she bonds, and we love her for it! She also loves her cuddles, so she’ll curl up on our laps and sleep whenever possible.

Having the extra responsibility of this fluffball in my daughter’s life has helped tremendously. She now leaves the house to walk her, she comes out of her room more to spend time with Willow, and she’s even more confident talking to people with Willow nearby! We’re currently planning to get her trained to be an assistance dog for my daughter. She’s the little superhero we needed.

After being told that Lola would be too difficult to train, Alannah proved everyone wrong by transforming her into a fully qualified performer

I adopted Lola nine years ago. She was rescued from an Irish puppy farm. Now, she is 11/12 and I adore her.

When I was meeting with the adoption charity, they said I wouldn’t be able to do much with her as she was a beagle. But Lola is now more qualified than I am. She competed at flyball and currently holds the most points for a beagle in the UK. She has completed her Gold Kennel Club. She has certificates for scent detection, tracking and man trailing, but her best skills are tricks. She loves to perform!

She’s more qualified than I am

Lola is totally motivated by food. She will often tell me when she deserves a treat when we are out. She also loves to wrap up under the duvet and at least two blankets. She adores people, especially my dad. This can be embarrassing due to the noise she makes when she sees him, and afterwards she’ll wee with excitement.

Lola is awesome. She has supported me through so much and knows many of my secrets. My relationship broke down just before the pandemic and having Lola made things better.

Maisie takes it upon herself to look after everyone, her owner Louise and their pet guinea pigs included!

Maisie is a loving, sociable dog. Even though she has doggy dementia, she still adores life and loves long walks, body boarding and rock pooling! I love going with her and watching her snorkel – once she even caught a crab!

She treats our guinea pigs like her puppies

She also loves little kids and treats our guinea pigs like her puppies, grooming them and sharing (or stealing) the veg from their plates as she loves sprouts! She will do a repertoire of tricks if you don’t give her a treat.

She is intelligent, stubborn and intuitive and can identify when my partner is in pain to the point when she will lie against her back and refuse to move when she has a flare up. Maisie has also helped me through tough times, allowing me to gradually get from agoraphobic to being able to go out with her by my side.

Tilly may seem cute and innocent, but she definitely reigns supreme in Anna’s house!

I wouldn’t be without my dog Tilly. Last year I had a nasty car accident and she got me through the low times. She’s full of mischief and such a great character. She’s not perfect – she’s got a crossbite so often shows off her tiny teeth – but she’s perfect to me.

She got me through the low times

Tilly is very affectionate. She loves to have a cuddle and be carried around. Though she’s also a very stubborn girl. She’s very much the boss of the family and has to be first with everything. She’ll often bite her ‘brother’ Scrappy’s ears, but he loves her just as I do. During the spring days, she loves to garden – digging holes and rolling in the mud!