Kita has supported and protected Savannah in many different ways while she’s been living far away from her family

Kita is truly the best dog out there. She’s the happiest and friendliest dog. She’s never yet met a dog, person, or any other animal that she doesn’t love.

I live in the UK alone as all my family live in a different country, so having her has brought me so much joy and given me a purpose every single day. Not only that, I get so much exercise and am the healthiest I’ve ever been, all thanks to this cheeky girl.

I will forever be thankful to her

One of her fun quirks is that she doesn’t really run, she hops! When she’s excited or she’s found something fun like a stick or sock, she’ll grab it and hop around. And when she greets other dogs, she goes in paws first to hug their faces.

She’s also incredibly dramatic. She loves to yell if she doesn’t get her way and she yells at other dogs when they aren’t giving her enough attention. Her new favourite thing is pill bugs. She doesn’t want to eat them, she just used her paws to play with them.

The most special thing about her is that she saved me one time. Late one evening, we were walking alone in France due to travel delays, and some man was following us and trying to engage with me, despite my attempts to get him to leave. Although she was only eight months at the time, Kita took the hint and just barked her lungs out at him until he left us alone. He tried to return but she scared him off. I will forever be thankful to her for that evening. She really is the best.

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.

Ever since Molly joined the family, she’s been the best walking buddy Dona could ask for

My little Molly is my shadow. She follows me everywhere and likes to snuggle in on the sofa. I love walking and would walk alone as none of my family would come, but now Molly comes with me.

We go for a nine- or 10-mile walk around late morning and it's great having her by my side. I now know so many more people because of her. Before it would be a ‘hello’ in passing, but now we stop for chats. It’s great for my mental health as well, as I suffer from bad anxiety.

I now know so many more people because of her

Molly would do anything for food, and she’s absolutely ruled by her stomach. She knows when it’s time for meals and thumps her food bowl with her paw, until she gets what she wants.

When we got her, she was a very nervous little pup, and being attacked twice by other dogs hasn't helped. But she is so much better, even though she’s still a work in progress. Molly is the baby of the family, and we all love her and her little traits.

Loveable pug Albert has stayed by Nicole’s side through thick and thin

When my partner died in 2015, my friends clubbed together to save enough money to cover the adoption fees for Albert.

Gaz and I had always dreamed of owning a black pug called Albert, so when he passed away, my friends knew that having a dog would be the only thing that could help me through. I saved him and he saved me.

He’s been by my side through the best and worst times of my life

I love Albert endlessly. He is the most devoted, loyal dog in the world. He knows when I’m sad and he’s happy when I’m happy.

I don’t know what I would ever do without me. He’s nine years old now and has been by my side through the worst and best times of my life.

Poppy is a huge inspiration to Joanna – no matter what life brings her, she keeps on going!

Poppy was the runt of her litter and was going free to a good home. She has had so many things go wrong in her life, but she takes it on the chin and just accepts them as being part of life. Last year she was diagnosed with low-grade mouth cancer and had a month of radiotherapy treatment. The treatment was successful, and it has not returned, but during a check-up scan in February, we discovered her gall bladder was in a poor state and she had to go on liver support meds. A scan in September found it to be worse, and she had to have it removed in October.

She brings joy to each and every day

Her recovery has been impressive, and she’s just got on with her life. On top of this, she has an allergy to certain types of pollen and requires a monthly immunotherapy injection to combat it. Poppy remains the most positive of dogs though and is a lesson to us all about accepting knock backs and getting back up and dusting yourself down again. I would be lost without her. She brings joy to each and every day with her positive outlook on life especially in the darkest of years that 2020 has been.

At the grand old age of 10, Joey has shown owner Julie that he’s strong, resilient and a real fighter

A few months ago, Joey collapsed and lost the use of his back legs. The vet said it was a stroke and that it was time to say goodbye.

His determination and zest for life is a lesson and a tonic

Joey, however, had other plans. After a few days, he began to move his back legs again. Then, after a week, he was weight bearing, which is quite a task for a 36kg Greyhound. Now, he can freely run and play.

His determination and zest for life is a lesson and a tonic for me every single day. He brings such happiness to our lives.