Simona and her dog River love going on adventures together – so much so, Simona’s even written a book inspired by one of their trips!

River is my little adventure buddy and inspiration.

My goal is to enrich her life and we often embark on UK adventures together, exploring our surroundings and taking part in activities! She’s motivated me to be better and keeps me active on our daily walks and hikes.

She truly is my muse

I’ve even published a book inspired by one of our trips – written as though it’s from her point of view. This opened up my creativity and allowed me to face a challenge I thought would be impossible due to my dyslexia.

She’s also my personal photography model and we often go out to scenic places and have photoshoots. She truly is my muse. Without River, I believe my life would be quite boring and lack adventure. She’s opened up so many opportunities for me, which I will be forever grateful for.

Bryn came into Amy’s life when she needed him most, and now she can’t imagine even a day without him

We have a long, emotional story, but I will try to keep it short. I got Bryn when I was going through a bad time personally. My whole world fell apart – job, house and marriage – and he really did keep me living. We soon became inseparable and I began to find myself again. He kept me on my toes with his mischievous ways and made me laugh every day.

Living our best life

In 2015 Bryn was diagnosed with epilepsy (a strange coincidence, as I also have epilepsy). At first I thought I was going to lose him, but after a few weeks of meds, I started to see the old Bryn return. Since then, we’ve been living our best life, climbing mountains, moving out of our old town and eventually getting my dream job working with animals (Bryn comes to work with me!).

In the last couple of years Bryn’s condition has got worse, but I have been so lucky to be able to take him to work with me so I don’t worry about leaving him alone. I very rarely go anywhere without him.

Logan started life as a poorly pup, but now he’s happy, healthy and thriving thanks to Monica and her family

Logan is a quirky, loving dog who came to us as a tiny puppy. His story was quite sad – he was underweight with a heart murmur, deformed ribs and no breast bone. But as in the best fairy tales, we eventually got our happy ending.

Logan is from Many Tears Animal Rescue in west Wales. He was a sickly pup destined for euthanasia, but a vet managed to get help and he was surrendered to the rescue centre. They started looking for a home where he could live out his expected short life. That’s when I saw him on their website, and he tugged at my heartstrings.

He was a different puppy after his first six weeks with us

We had lost one of our dogs a few months earlier, and Lulu, our Cavalier, was feeling lonely. We went to see Logan, and it was love at first sight. He was such a quiet pup at first, but he went from strength to strength. With plenty of Lulu love, good food and the right care, he was a different puppy after his first six weeks with us. He was happy, active, playful, and loved by everyone, especially our granddaughters.

At six months old, he showed little signs of ever being ill. His chest had hardened up and he managed with stunted ribs. His heart murmur was also gone! He started running like the wind, and playing fetch like a pro. When he turned one, we returned to the rescue centre for an open day. They were delighted with his progress, and he even won a prize! Now, he’s still in love with Lulu, who’s almost 12, and the rest of the family. We’re loving our happy ever after.

Marion’s dogs inspired her to start a Facebook group encouraging dog owners to pick up litter – an idea which eventually evolved into the Paws on Plastic charity

My dog was a huge source of comfort when I was on long-term sick leave from my job as a primary teacher nearly four years ago. I suffered complications after having shingles and had no idea when I’d get better.

But Paddy forced me out in the fresh air and it lifted my mood. I’d been teaching Eco subjects and my dogs have always loved a plastic bottle, which is why I started noticing and picking up more litter on our walks.

Eventually, I formed a Facebook group – Paws on Plastic – and added everyone I knew who had dogs, encouraging them to pick up a few pieces of litter on their dog walks every day and share a photo of their dog. More people joined as friends were added and I started posting in other groups. It became a lovely, supportive community that really gave me a focus and extra support at a time when I really struggled.

I started this huge campaign that removes over 30 million pieces of litter every year

The group grew to over 21,000 members with followers in over 70 countries worldwide across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We became a charity in September 2021.

I never made it back to the classroom, but I started this huge campaign that removes well over 30 million pieces of litter every year, saving lots of animals from harm and preventing plastic from entering the sea. I’m extremely grateful to my dog Paddy, my other dog Ted who joined us in 2019 and my original bottle-loving dog, Murphy, who we lost in 2015.

Paddy and Ted are gorgeous fox red Labradors. They are extremely friendly and loving, and completely inseparable. Ted is epileptic and Paddy is extremely protective of him. He adored him from the minute he arrived and is so patient with him. Ted is extremely clingy with me, always glued to my side. He’s a really sweet dog.

Mary’s loveable dogs, Pippy and Mollie, have helped her to get through lockdown

I had to shield during lockdown, and I found it really hard. Without the love and care l got from Pippy, l don't think l would have made it through.She made me laugh with her funny antics, cuddled me all night and checked up on me during the day.

Basically a real-life Scooby Doo

Pippy is hilarious and obsessed with food. Not a day goes by when she doesn’t steal a spoonful of my porridge in the morning! She also loves playing with her ball and is basically a real-life Scooby Doo. If my other dog Mollie loses her ball, Pippy usually finds it and points to it with her nose so Mollie knows where it is, but sometimes, Pippy will just steal it andrun away.

The past twelve months have been so tough, but with my dogs by my side, I’ve got through it all.

If Neville was ever in trouble, Scooby would break down any barrier to be by his side.

My dog Scooby is a cross between a Jack Russell and a Schnauzer. He’s now eight years old. When I and my now departed wife went to the farm with our daughter, he was the last puppy left all alone in a barn. He was just too lovable to be left on his own.

He was just too lovable

He is a very friendly boy and always looks for attention. I am 69 and currently in isolation with an underlying health condition. I had to go to the hospital at the end of March and the poor little soul didn’t know what was going on – he broke through the fence looking for me! My son-in-law went looking for him and I got a call from the person who had caught him. Luckily, I came home that night and we were reunited.

I also have a Husky (Mia), a kitten (Tommy) and a budgie (Clyde). They all get on with each other, which is a blessing in the current climate!