Pebble came into Linda’s life exactly when she needed her, and she’s made every day a little brighter since

Pebble is my little furry rock. When I lost my husband to cancer, the loneliness was so hard to bear. So, after a lot of research and talking to friends, I decided to look for a puppy. I came across a litter of Beddlington Whippets – the mum was a first cross Beddlington Whippet and the dad was a full pedigree Whippet.

Pebble was one of nine in the litter – two others were smooth-haired like her, while the other six were rough-coated. I fell for her the first moment I saw her at six weeks old. When she was old enough to leave her mum, she came to live with me and has been my constant companion ever since.

I fell for her the first moment I saw her

She's fun, makes me laugh every day and gets me out of the house. I now have plenty of exercise and stop to chat to so many people who marvel at how fast she is. In the evenings we cuddle on the sofa, and she gets into some of the most unusual goofy positions.

We go away together in my campervan and have attended many fun dog shows, country fairs and other charity events – she’s so pretty, she’s done well in many of the shows. She does also have her quirks, like recently she became scared of a new water bowl! And she’s nosey, so she’s been known to walk into fences and walls because she’s turning to look behind her. She’s the very best dog in the world and always brings a smile to my face.

Over the past six years, Rex has transformed from a crazy puppy into Emma’s top supporter

If you ever asked someone to describe the perfect dog, they would be describing my Rex. At six years old, he has sadly had multiple surgeries, including the recent removal of a fibrosarcoma from his mouth. Yet he is still the waggiest, most loving boy you could wish to meet.

Rex has dragged me through my darkest days. He’s loved me when I felt like the world didn't care, cuddled with me daily and very generously given us all endless sloppy kisses. He is an excellent big brother to two-year-old Elliott and is incredibly patient with him. He has adapted to his role so much better than I could have ever wished for.

He’s showing us the meaning of true unconditional love, in a way that only a dog can

Rex loves to come out on adventures and holidays with us, and he was even ring bearer at our wedding (although he was wearing a cone of shame with his suit). He was originally nicknamed ‘Shredder’ by my dad as a puppy due to his destructive habits, but his wild ways are no more. However, if there's food on the go, you can still guarantee he’s nearby, in true Labrador form.

To put it simply, Rex is just a joy to be around. He is a positive influence simply by being himself. He’s forever making us all smile and showing us the meaning of true unconditional love, in a way that only a dog can.

Katie knows how special her dog Koko is, and everyone that meets her can’t help but agree

I got my dog Koko when she was just six months old. She settled in straight away, and even though she had never been around children, she was absolutely amazing with my three right from the start.

Koko has a lovely temperament, she’s so calm and chilled that I really feel as though I have the perfect dog. When I first got her, I was able to spend pretty much all day keeping her company, since we were in lockdown at the time. After I went back to work, I was worried she wouldn’t adjust, but she took it all in her stride.

She behaves just like a cat

One of the funniest things about Koko is that she behaves just like a cat. She sleeps a lot and loves lazing around, so she’ll only go on a walk if you make her. I think she’d rather stay curled up on the comfy sofa all day long. When we do get out of the house, people always make a fuss of her because she’s so striking – you don’t see many Japanese Shiba Inus around here.

Koko also has a penchant for toffee popcorn, which is rather unusual for a dog. Her previous owners told us this and we were sceptical, but if you open a bag in another room she always comes running straight in!

With Christine’s help, Freddie has gone from being terrified of humans to living a happy, healthy life

I took Freddie in when he was 13 months old. He’d been through a bad time somewhere. He’d obviously been hit or beaten, as he’d almost go through the floor if you so much as raised a hand, even to comb your hair.

He wouldn’t go to anyone, and it took two weeks to get him used to living in the house and accepting my husband. He was frightened of everything, even a peg dropping. In his view, it was best to avoid people wherever possible. But he loved his tennis ball. I kept asking men to play ball with him and this worked well. He would take the ball back to them, which was a great improvement. Then I got shingles, and we couldn’t go out, so now I need to start socialising him again.

He’s a joy to live with

Freddie actually came to me about six or seven weeks after I lost my friend Monty. I wasn’t in a good place, but Freddie helped me through that rough patch. He’s a joy to live with, although he does love to chew through his rope toys.

He sneaks into the bedroom in the early hours and ends up sleeping on the bed. He has this thing about sitting in front of me with his front paws on my lap and looking at me with those big brown eyes, which makes me melt. He’ll soon be two years old, and I can start working with him again.

Rebecca adores Honey, who is the perfect sidekick for her

From the moment my Labrador Honey entered my life, everything changed for the better.

She’s a bundle of energy with a wagging tail that never stops and a love for adventure that we both share.

I’m so grateful to have such an amazing companion by my side

One of my favourite memories is when she first discovered the joy of swimming. We were at the lake, and after some hesitation, Honey finally leapt into the water, splashing around with pure delight. It was in that moment I realised just how much joy a dog could bring into my life.

Every day with Honey is a new adventure filled with love, loyalty, and endless tail wags. I’m so grateful to have such an amazing companion by my side.

Now her racing days are over, Maggie is enjoying her life as a therapy dog and a beloved member of Richard’s family

Maggie made our lives complete when we adopted her from Greyhound Trust West Wales. She’s an ex-racer and was very timid and nervous of men at first. She’s settled with us really well, and now works as a therapy hound for Greyhound Rescue Wales. She visits students in colleges and universities in South Wales, where she enjoys lots of attention and treats.

We strive to give her the loving family life she so deserves

She’s very aloof and a bit of a diva. But she’s absolutely gorgeous, and always turns heads in the pub – which she loves visiting! She also loves going for walks and then crashing out on our comfy sofa or bed until it’s her mealtime.

Maggie’s very partial to chicken and cooked broccoli and, of course, the occasional treat. We like to think that Maggie has fully adopted us too, and we strive to give her the loving family life she so deserves.