She may be getting on, but affectionate Shirley is a huge source of comfort for Jacqueline

My daughter, Felicity, bought Shirley as a puppy (I loaned her the money to buy her). She always wanted a pug and finally got one when she was 25 years old. Felicity absolutely loved her little dog, who even featured on top of her wedding cake in sugar form! Shirley became a doting carer for Felicity’s children, too.

Sadly, Felicity passed away aged 34, leaving her two boys (aged two and four), as well as Shirley the dog.

Shirley is such a wonderful little dog who is just full of love

Felicity’s husband found it difficult to care for Shirley, so we adopted her. She spent a lot of time with us anyway, so it wasn’t too much of a trial coming to live with us, particularly as she was aging. As a 15-year-old dog, I think she liked being with two retired oldies.

She snuggles up to us on the sofa every night and has been such a comfort to us. Shirley is such a wonderful little dog who is just full of love.

Over the years, Kenny has helped his owner Prudence through some of the most challenging times

Kenny is a joy. I got him as a puppy when I was 19 years old, and he has been a constant companion and support in my life ever since.

He’s brought me through so much

When I was 27, I lost my mum very suddenly and Kenny became my reason for carrying on. He’s brought me through so much and has always been full of character.

He was very unwell last year when I was heavily pregnant, and I was scared I was going to lose him, but thankfully, he pulled through and although he’s now very old, he’s still full of life! My baby might never remember him, but I’m so glad they’ve been able to meet one another.

Christine’s dog Patch likes to keep her on her toes sometimes, but she knows he’ll always be there for her no matter what

Patch is such a loving dog. He enjoys nothing more than a good cuddle – but don’t be fooled, because he can also be a cheeky little rascal! One of his worst habits is unplugging things from their sockets. Once, he even managed to unplug my freezer! I’ve had to strategically place objects around the house now in an effort to deter him.

He can also be a cheeky little rascal!

One of the things I love most about Patch is his quirkiness. He likes to make himself comfortable, so every day he jumps up onto the sofa and rearranges the cushions so he has a stack of pillows to rest his head on. It makes us laugh every time!

He’s also extremely protective of me. Patch loves to sit and look out of the window, but if he sees someone approaching the house he barks like mad at them. Of course, that’s not to say he doesn’t know how to behave – every evening after I’ve done the dishes, he sits and waits patiently for me to give him his treat.

As long as Jennifer has Alfie by her side, she can get through anything

I got Alfie during the pandemic as I live alone and wanted some companionship. Because of all the lockdowns, I barely left the house and my mood was constantly low.

I had been saving for a dog for a while but with the prices jumping up I couldn't find any I could afford. I randomly found an advert for Alfie and managed to be the first person to get in contact – it was clearly meant to be. He has brought so much happiness into my life and is helping me to get out of the house and interacting with people again.

He has brought me so much happiness

Since getting Alfie, I have been focusing on his training, which has given me something to do while spending all this time at home. He has made such a massive difference to my mood and quality of life. I honestly don't know what I would do without him.

Sarah never thought she’d be lucky enough to have a dog like Storm in her life

I’ve always been a huge fan of dogs, but working as a Paramedic means I’m out of the house for long shifts both day and night, so I don’t have the time to look after one. At the start of this year, I began to really struggle, and living alone led me to feel isolated. I was lacking motivation to leave the house, eating rubbish and stressing more than usual.

In February, my mum’s dog passed away unexpectedly. Instead of getting a new dog for herself, she offered to co-parent a pup with me, so I could finally get the four-legged companion I’d wanted for so long. Together, we take care of Storm. She looks after him when I’m at work, and I get to spend time with him when I’m home.

Storm has turned my life around

Storm has turned my life around. I’m happier and out walking every day, losing weight and back to feeling motivated and energised. He’s amazing company both in and out of the house and he brings so much joy to everyone we meet. His floppy ears and cheeky head tilt are enough to melt your heart.

With Storm in my life, I’m so excited to see what adventures the future holds for both of us.

Missie is a constant source of cuddles and support for everyone in River’s family

I always refer to Missie as an angel sent from heaven, as she’s provided life-saving therapy for both my dad and me, throughout our mental health struggles.

Missie is the most loving dog I’ve ever known. She always wants to say hello to every human she meets, although she’s wary of other dogs. She’s such a family dog – wherever we are in the house she has to be there too, even the bathroom! She always likes to be touching a part of you to know you’re close. If she’s not on your lap, she’ll place a paw on your arm or her head on your feet.

Missie is the most loving dog I’ve ever known

Her favourite toy is her tennis ball, which is affectionately called ‘Ballie’ – we’ve actually been through multiple, but shh! Her favourite activity is playing fetch with it on the beach, but she also likes to take Ballie with her to bed and cuddle up with it.

I am beyond thankful for our loving, healing girl Missie, and I want to give her the biggest treat she deserves.