Sweet Lola truly gives meaning to the title ‘Man’s Best Friend’ for Gemma’s son

Lola is the best doggie – she’s always loving and loyal.

She’s always loving and loyal

We got her for our son who was struggling with Tourette’s syndrome, anxiety and depression, and she’s helped him more than she will ever know.

My son and Lola even share the same birthday, so they have a very special bond.

By the time he was just three years old, Sonic had already had four different owners, but Rebecca and her husband were more than happy to become lucky number five

Sonic was a rescue dog. We adopted him in May 2019. We were told by the rescue centre that Sonic had a loving home as a puppy but, after the couple that owned him split up, he was left living on the streets.

He eventually went to a shelter and was adopted by a woman who gave him up after two months. He then was adopted by a family who gave him back after just a week. After that, he went to a foster home and, finally, he came to us.

My husband and I fell in love with him as soon as we saw his photo and read his story and, despite setting out to adopt a Labrador, we knew instantly that we needed Sonic in our lives. He was just three when he arrived, but we were his fifth home, so naturally it did take some time for him to settle in and trust us not to leave him again.

He still thinks he can sit on my knee as if he were a little chihuahua!

Sonic is a very sensitive boy. He was severely underweight when he came to us, but after lots of work he has gained some weight back. He still struggles with eating meals, but he does love tasty treats!

He follows us around the house and is only calm and content when he’s cuddled up on my lap. He’s a big boy, and he’s very boisterous and energetic, with zero awareness of how large he is. He still thinks he can sit on my knee as if he were a little Chihuahua!

He is very clumsy and cannot catch a treat in his mouth no matter how hard he tries. He loves being off the lead and runs for miles. He seems to have selective hearing when it comes to recall, but he always comes back eventually!

He is a million miles away from the calm Labrador that we originally set out to adopt, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Our home is chaotic, but he fills our lives with so much love and we, in turn, adore him!

Cara may be a dog, but Maria-Elena believes we can all learn from her kindness

Cara comes from Romania, which is also were I’m from. She never stops surprising me with her endless love and empathy. One of the things I admire most about her is the way she cares for others. If she finds someone in trouble, she’ll immediately alert me so I can help them. She also protects anyone or anything she deems vulnerable and is a great friend to birds and small creatures.

My dog is magic

She quickly adapted to living in Devon and has even joined me in working at a nursing home. Cara helps to make the residents there smile again, bringing them some joy and laughter in their darkest moments. My dog is magic, and I could never even come close to helping others in the way shedoes every day.

Julie loves how well Bonnie has taken little Bella under her wing

Bonnie is a gorgeous, fun-loving and affectionate Cocker Spaniel. She is always wagging her tail, which never fails to cheer me up. We go for walksat least twice a day and she loves nothing more than chasing after a ball. She also does agility training once a week, and that’s helped me to get fitter.

Never fails to cheer me up

We take her on holiday with us, and this year we’re looking forward to going on a staycation where we can enjoy long and peaceful walks. We’ll also be joined by another little Cocker Spaniel called Bella. Bonnie has taken so well to the new pup, mothering her, and enjoying the odd game of tug of war with her new companion. She even washes Bella, and they always like to sleep curled up together. It’s so adorable!

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.

After the loss of her husband, rescuing and caring for Elsa gave Dawn the sense of purpose she needed

I got Elsa from a rescue centre in Doncaster. I was so pleased, and it made me feel great that I’d rescued her. She was so thin, and her coat was all matted up. I was told that she was mistreated previously. As I’d lost my husband, she became a great comfort to me. I now had someone to go for walks with, and she had someone to love and get love from.

It made me feel great that I’d rescued her

In the beginning, she always followed me about and just wanted to be mine. She was shy, but I made her happy. I got her coat clipped and fed her up. She was looking good, and I felt great every time I saw her improvement – it made me smile. She gave me lots of love and she even made friends with my son’s cat! We quickly became firm friends, and she would bark at anyone who came near me.

One day, my son Ken said to me: “You have a rest and I’ll walk Elsa.” He put her lead on and she went to the door. But when he opened the door, she sat down and refused to move. As soon as I came over, she was up and out! Poor Ken, bless him. He did try a few more times but she gave him the same reaction. All in all, she has such a loving personality and brings me so much joy.