Pets of the Week in the Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester

In a bid to celebrate the joy our pet dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, hamsters, guinea pigs and reptiles bring to our lives we have launched Pets of the Week.

This is a dedicated space to nominate your four-legged friends or your cold blooded reptiles for the coveted title of the Dorset Echo’s Pet of the Week.

Sapphire the French Bulldog, 13 weeks old, owned by CJ Hargreaves. CJ tells us: “She’s a unique colour with a great personality.”

"I met her though a friend and travelled all the way to Cambridge to collect her.

"She's a unique colour with a great personality. very good with children and other animals. She tries to ride the children's wheeled scooter and she squeals like a pig."

Topsy the British shorthair cat, aged two and three quarters, owned by Maria Figes, who tells us: “I got her September 2018, from rescue, at Portland Catz , she had been abandoned expecting kittens.

"She has a real character, can often be a little madam when she can't have her own way, but she can also be very loving in her own way.

"Topsy could be a handful in the early days, as I think she had been badly treated in her early days before ending up in the rescue cattery, but over time she learned to understand that i would never hurt or harm her.

"It is very rewarding taking on a cat who has had a tough start to life , i wouldn't have it any other way. Topsy has been along my side through a difficult 2019 , she is very special and I love her a lot."

Elvis the pug dog, 4, owned by Indi Palmer, who tells us: Elvis is my best friend. He’s very clever for a pug and I enjoy training him. We usually compete at fun dog shows across Dorset and enter into the dog trick categories where he often wins.”

"Elvis knows over 80 tricks and does agility. He can do tricks such as a handstand, skipping a rope, weaving through my legs and jumping over my back."

If you would like to see your animal in our Pet of the Week section, fill out our quick and easy form and submit your pictures here

Lucy Bill, 8, a sprocker spaniel, owned by Carmen Bill, who says: “Lucy makes us laugh every day. She loves chasing birds and flies.

"We first met Lucy when she was 2 weeks old. She was the cutest puppy we’d ever seen. We picked her up when she was 10 weeks old. She is from Bridgwater, Somerset.

"She’ll sniff out a dirty sock amongst 100 clean ones.

"We went to Silverstone one year and a friend stayed to look after her. She found a hole in the bush and she ran away to look for us."

Marley the Labrador dog, 12, owned by Becky Ross, who says: “We rescued him at a year old. He is from Weymouth. He has survived 3 operations over the years. 12 is old for a lab but he looks gorgeous as ever.

"He is a fantastic sofa dog despite his large size. He is a top notch cuddler.

"He’s energetic and requires a lot of exercise. He also requires specific dietary requirements to keep him happy and healthy. When we adopted him he was covered in fleas and his fur was very thin due to constant scratching. We worked hard to rid him of fleas and get his fur looking better.

"I’ve said it already but I’ll say it again. He’s 12 and doesn’t look it at all. He’s so loving, has such a personality and we’re an incredibly lucky family to have him."