Popular petfood brand HiLife is sponsoring the ‘HiLife Pets As Therapy (PAT) Dog of the Year’ competition for the 16th year, recognising the pawsome pooches and their owners that volunteer to improve the lives of people in their local community.

Pets As Therapy (PAT) is an independently funded charity with over 5,000 volunteers across the UK. Its registered PAT pets provide animal assisted therapy and bring comfort, smiles and friendship to thousands of people every week. In support of the positive impact offered by these super pets, popular petfood brand, HiLife, has been sponsoring the charity competition since 2004.

The HiLife PAT Dog of the Year competition showcases the remarkable therapy dogs that visit schools, hospitals and care homes throughout the year. This year’s finalists, Jack and Lulu the Labradors, Maggie the Greyhound, Abbee the Golden Retriever, Bella the Bichon Frise and Molly the Border Collie will attend a presentation day at Crufts, where one pup and their owner will be crowned winner.

Barry Coase, who got his dog Bella the Bichon Frise to help manage his PTSD, became a PAT volunteer when he realised that she could help others like him. He said: “Bella is a lovely dog with a very calm nature. We’ve found that veterans like me are able to open up more in therapy when they are stroking her.”

On reaching the final of this year’s competition, Cath Jones who visits local care homes with her Labrador Jack said: “Receiving such positive feedback from our clients and the staff is a reminder of the huge impact your dog can have on people’s lives.”

Deborah Dow, CEO at Pets As Therapy, said: “The HiLife PAT Dog of the Year competition is a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on the incredible work that all of our dogs and their owners do in local communities, week in week out.

“Our volunteers really do changes lives and the five finalists were nominated by the local organisations they support, who shared moving and heart-warming tributes, highlighting their dedication to helping others.

We would like to thank HiLife for continuing to help us promote our charity’s work and for encouraging more people to register as a volunteer with Pets As Therapy.”

Commenting on the longstanding relationship with Pets As Therapy, Tony Parkinson, managing director for HiLife, said: “Each year we look forward to hearing the inspiring stories of the Pets As Therapy volunteers and to helping celebrate the incredible power of pets!

“The selfless nature of these brilliant dogs and their ability to offer unconditional love brings so much joy to everyone they meet. Now in our 16th year of sponsoring this award, it’s always a privilege to be involved in the Crufts presentation day and meet the owners of these four-legged heroes.”

For more information about Pets As Therapy, visit www.petsastherapy.org or call 01844 345 445.

For more information about HiLife and Town and Country Petfoods, visit www.hilifepet.co.uk  or visit www.facebook.com/hilifedog or follow @HiLifeDog on Twitter.

Main pictured above: Last year's winner Sheena and Inca.

Below: this year's finalists.