Esther is very clever and loving. When I was unwell and requiring chemo, she stayed by my side throughout the journey – keeping my feet warm and giving me lots of cuddles.
She stayed by my side
Now that I’m well, she’s enjoying her long walks with me again and loves meeting her little friends!
Fergus has been an absolute blessing during the last year. I’ve had to shield, and he’s been by my side the whole way through.
We’ve passed away the days away together, and he’s been a great help to me in the garden. Fergus loves nothing more than to dig holes, although I often catch him digging in places he really shouldn’t!
He’s been by my side the whole way through
He’s such a loving and friendly dog, and with him to look after, I have a reason to get up early in the morning – although usually, it’s because he’s jumping on my head in an attempt to tell me he’s ready for his breakfast.
Fergus, along with his big brother Henry, have their own social media page and have kept hundreds of followers entertained with their antics during lockdown. I would be lost without my constant companion.
Our daughter had been asking us to get a dog since she was young, and we finally gave in after losing both of our cats. When we got him, Eddie had already been named after the Jack Russell on the show Frasier, and it suited him so much we didn't change it.
He has the same amount of energy as he did when we first got him, always providing us with lots of laughter. His favourite activity is jumping up to catch the bubbles I blow for him. If I go into the cupboard they’re stored in, he gives a high pitched, excited bark and runs into the room.
When I garden, he copies exactly what I’m doing
When I garden, he copies exactly what I’m doing. If I dig, he digs, which is often really useful, but if I prune, he grabs hold of the plant and pulls it out, which isn’t so ideal! When I’m watering the plants, he always jumps in front of me and tries to drink straight from the hose.
Eddie has so many more funny habits, like the way he barks at animals on the TV. It’s got to the point where I can't watch a nature programme unless he's asleep. He really is a funny, adorable and very unique dog.
Petal is a 17-year-old mini Jack Russell, tiny even by Jack Russell standards. She's so petite that we think there may be some chihuahua in her.
She might be ancient, but she's still got it! Her gait is most accurately described as a sassy strut. She's still in the prime of her life as far as she's concerned. Being old hasn't diminished her joy for chasing squirrels in the park, or even her own tail.
Because she's so small, she has to make a jump over the back doorstep to come in from the garden. She always completes her jump with stylish aplomb, reminiscent of a show jumping horse.
She might be ancient, but she's still got it!
Her seniority has inevitably led to her having a few less teeth compared with when she was a youngster. This means she's particularly fond of her Winalot gravy satchets because she finds the food not only tasty, but also very easy to eat. She gets excited when she sees the sachets appear at dinnertime and, without fail, does her 'hurry up and feed me' bark whilst waiting for her bowl to be filled.
She lives with CC, an 11-year-old chocolate Labrador, and they are the best of friends. She likes snuggling up to CC for naps. But Petal is the boss, and she has no qualms reminding CC of this as and when required.
A few years ago, she was lucky enough to win first place in the Dog with Best Personality category at a local Fun Day Dog Contest. One of her prizes was a tennis ball and thrower but the ball was a bit too big for her. She had no problems passing it on to CC as a consolation prize. But she's far less generous when it comes to her sharing her dinner!
Petal may be small, but she has a huge personality that lights up any room. She is a cute little bundle of fun and love who brings a great deal of joy to all of us that have the good fortune to share our lives with her.
When I lost my last dog at 13 years old, I thought that my broken heart couldn’t be mended, but then Willow came along and filled it with love and joy.
Willow came along and filled my life with love and joy
She is bonkers but kind, gentle and loves everyone. She has helped many people and other dogs overcome their fear of big dogs, particularly German Shepherds. She’s a great ambassador for larger breeds, and she’s also my best friend.
Unfortunately, she thinks she’s a lap dog! She has no concept of personal space – but I wouldn’t change it for a second.
I rescued Mylo from Spain when he was a pup. Ever since the first day he moved over, he’s never not had a smile on his face. He’s such a positive influence in my life, as his happiness takes away all the negativity.
He’s such a positive influence in my life
He has such a funny habit when I have a cup of tea. He sits there, waiting to make sure he gets a bit at the end. And if I tell him ‘no’, oh the back chat I get!
Mylo also has lots of love to give, as I rescued another dog called Oscar, and Mylo takes care of him like a brother.