Barney is an eight year old male Collie cross who wears his Fire Investigation Dog boots with pride. Since September 2006, Barney has worked alongside his owner and trainer Kerry Burns with the Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service where he investigates the causes of fires. Since qualifying, Barney has attended a staggering 226 fire scenes as well as numerous community safety events to promote arson reduction across the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes area. Last year alone, Barney’s intervention led to a decrease of nearly 20% in arson related fires across the area.

Claire's daughter Jasmine was just two when she was diagnosed with kidney disease, and by the time she was five she had no kidney function at all. She has dialysis every night and is also tube fed during the night. She is awaiting a kidney transplant. Claire got Treacle from Dogs Trust Kenilworth when Jasmine was two as a friend and companion for her.

Treacle sleeps on Jasmine’s bed or next to her and is a huge comfort. Jasmine often has to go into hospital for treatment and Treacle cannot join her which is very upsetting. The family have therefore applied for Treacle to be a PAT dog so that Jasmine can see her whenever she needs hospitalisation.

Sadly Tim died very recently. He was a 15 year old crossbreed who belonged to the owners of an EMI residential home in North Yorkshire. The residents of the home have Alzheimer’s or Dementia but many still remember their own dogs from when they were younger. They never remembered Tim’s name but they can call him anything and he would obediently come to them. Tim went and lay in rooms where people were unwell; the residents and their families were very fond of him and he provided lots of comfort.

Robert, owner of 10 year old Akita Adora saw an advert in a local paper asking for dogs to audition to play the role of Sandy in “Annie” in the West End. He thought Adora should give it a go because she fitted the requirement of being a sandy colour – she got the part! Adora really is a star in the making - she has a talent agent and is just waiting for her big break. She also goes into schools with the Blue Cross youth education scheme teaching children how to behave safely and responsibly around dogs.