We all wish our pets could stay with us forever. That’s the hard truth and we never want to think about the times without them. National Pet Day is more than just an excuse to share a cute photo (though you absolutely should). It’s a moment to pause and really think about what they mean to us and celebrate them. Our pets fill spaces in our lives that we didn’t even realise were empty. And for some, like myself, they fill a huge space in our lives. My dogs James, Pippa and Rosie are my family. I live on my own, with them, so they are my family. 

They’re with us through it all — the big life moments like heartbreak, celebrations, the sad times, the happy times or those nights when sleep doesn’t come easily. But they’re also there for the quiet, everyday things: the sleepy morning cuddles, the sound of their paws pitter pattering behind us from room to room, the way they somehow just know when we need comfort, without us saying a word. Especially these last few days where I've had a really hard day and I was very emotional, they gave me comfort, they gave me love.