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Over the past three months, we’ve been searching for Cumbria’s most heroic dogs and the nominations have been truly heartwarming. From loyal companions to life-savers, every story shared has shown just how special our dogs really are.
Our panel of judges has selected these incredible finalists for the Your Dog, Your Hero competition, each with their own inspiring tale of courage, loyalty, or love.
Read their stories below, then cast your vote to help us crown Cumbria’s ultimate hero dog. The winning dog will receive a luxury glamping break for them and their owner at one of our five-star, dog-friendly destinations.
1. ‘Heidi is my hero for adapting to her condition and living a full and happy life’ Barbara, Seaton
Heidi, a nine-year-old miniature schnauzer, has shown incredible strength of character after being diagnosed with a life-changing illness.
Her owner, Barbara Hemingway, calls Heidi her hero for coping with a condition that causes rapid, irreversible blindness in dogs. Diagnosed with Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome (SARDS) just over two years ago, Heidi lost her sight within weeks.
“In July 2023, we had just returned from holiday when Heidi began walking into things. The vet confirmed she was blind in one eye and nearly blind in the other. There was no treatment.
“It didn’t seem fair. We’ve had dogs for more than 40 years and of all the pets we’ve had, Heidi is the one who has always loved life the most. Gradually, by following voice commands, she learned to stay safe and even walk off-lead by following our scent and falconry bells. Our other dog, Mitzi, also wears them so they can find each other.
“Heidi is my hero for adapting to her condition and living a full, happy life. When she’s happy, she pulls up clumps of grass and throws them in the air, and when she smells the sea, she dashes for the beach, even though she can’t see it. She is amazing!”
2. ‘Ernie came to us as a pet but has become so much more’ Janice, Carlisle
When a cute little German Shepherd puppy came into Janice and Steve Minnikin’s life, they never imagined the vital role he would play in helping them cope with Steve’s hearing loss.
Soon after they got Ernie, Steve lost his hearing due to vasculitis. After reading about the incredible work of hearing dogs, the couple wondered if Ernie, then about a year old, could learn the same skills. They approached Cumbrian dog trainer, Jen Cartmel of Clever Dogs Dog Training, who worked with Ernie once a week for 10 months, teaching him to respond to sounds such as the doorbell, fire and smoke alarms, phone calls and reversing trucks.
Ernie has become a fantastic support for Steve, who has since regained his hearing thanks to a recent cochlear implant.
“Ernie is awesome, that’s the only word for it,” says Janice. “He came to us as a pet but has become so much more. Ernie helps Steve so much in his day-to-day life. When Steve takes his cochlear implant out at night, Ernie stays alert for alarms or calls and nudges him to let him know. He loves it too, probably because of all the treats he gets!
“German Shepherds are such clever, loving dogs and Ernie proves that every day.”
3. ‘Summer truly has the heart of a hero’ Rebecca, Penrith
Summer came into Rebecca Schulz’s life following a sudden family bereavement and in those first painful weeks, the playful puppy’s spirit brought lightness to a house filled with grief.
Now seven years old, the flat-coated retriever remains a kind, soulful companion, completely in tune with human emotions and always there with quiet understanding or a wagging tail. She’s also an adoptive sister to Junior, a retired police dog who is part of the family, helping him adjust to home life after years of service through her gentle, playful nature.
“Summer is my best friend, my comfort and my hero,” says Rebecca. “She came into our lives when we needed her the most and, without knowing it, became our therapy dog.
“She truly has the heart of a hero. On a walk at Haweswater a couple of years ago, Summer suddenly ran off into long grass and started barking, which is completely out of character. We followed her and found elderly man who had fallen and, weakened by recent chemotherapy, couldn’t get back on his feet. His wife had gone to find a phone signal to call for help. Thanks to Summer’s instincts, we were able to help him back to the car park to meet his wife.
“Summer is the most patient, loyal companion. She really is extraordinary.”
4. ‘My dogs are my life, it’s that simple’ Chris, Appleby
For Chris Johnson, his dogs are his world. They are the reason he gets up in the morning and bring endless companionship and joy to his life. Chris has two dogs: Woody, a friendly nine-year-old Golden Labrador and Fred, a red and white collie puppy with boundless energy.
Chris entered the Your Dog, Your Hero competition to celebrate the selfless devotion his dogs bring to his life and to pay tribute to Sam, his beloved border collie who passed away peacefully in May 2025.
“When I lost Sam, it was like losing my best mate. For 15 and a half years, this scruffy black-and-white border collie was my loyal companion and my shadow. He knew me better than I knew myself. He saw me through births, deaths, marriage, divorce and illness. When I was diagnosed with cancer four years ago and had to undergo treatment, Sam was the constant, reassuring presence in my life.
“They say your dog is your best friend and that’s absolutely true. I still miss Sam every day and I’d be lost without Woody and Fred.”
5. ‘Indie is the most adorable, affectionate and resilient little Labrador’ Karen, Workington
For her owners Karen Wilson and Lisa Rowe, Indie’s courageous spirit shone through when the Labrador was diagnosed with cancer in April 2025.
“Indie had what looked like an insect bite on her muzzle but our vet suspected something more serious and, after doing tests, referred us tto the Small Animal Teaching Hospital at The University of Liverpool,” says Karen. after tests “She underwent surgery to remove the tumour and reconstruct her lip.”
At just 21 months old, the energetic Labrador endured weeks of strict rest, hand-feeding and intense chemotherapy. Despite the pain and disruption, Indie never lost her gentle nature or wagging tail.
“She spread joy to staff and fellow patients on every hospital visit. Her resilience and affectionate spirit carried us all through the toughest months.”
On September 1, Karen and Lisa received the wonderful news that Indie was in remission. “Indie is the most adorable, affectionate and resilient little Labrador. Everyone falls in love with her cheeky, friendly nature. Indie is now helping to raise awareness about mast cell tumours and we hope sharing her story could save the lives of other dogs and bring hope to owners like us.”
6. ‘I call her my ‘therapy pal’ because that’s exactly what she is’ Heidi, Egremont
For Heidi Martin, Gem is more than just a dog, she’s a loyal friend. The border collie has been a constant support for Heidi, particularly when she went through a difficult time last year.
“Gem isn’t my dog but she’s my best friend,” says Heidi. “I met her at Parkrun two years ago and instantly fell in love. Her owners kindly let me run with her and from that moment, she became a huge part of my life.
“Last year, I went through a difficult time at home and work. I didn't want to go out or see anyone, but I felt comfortable with Gem. Her owners let me take her for walks and she lifted my spirits and helped me forget everything for a while. I call her my ‘therapy pal’ because that’s exactly what she is.
“Gem is full of quirks which make me laugh. She loves the camera and often photobombs strangers’ pictures, which makes everyone laugh. Every Saturday, she keeps me motivated and smiling on Parkrun. Gem has done more for me than she’ll ever know.”
7. ‘Shelby brought a new lease of life to the farm and is always by our side’ Marie, Wigton
A charismatic cocker spaniel called Shelby made all the difference to Marie Johnston and her partner Neil Young when he came into their life as an energetic puppy just over a year ago.
“Working on a farm can be lonely and hard at times and, before we got Shelby, we had hit a rough patch because we lost sight of what we were working for and our passion for it.
“Shelby brought a new lease of life to the farm and is always by our side. He gets up with us at 4am to start the day, and loves all the animals, especially the baby calves.
“He honestly thinks he’s human. He sits on the tractor with us, rides on the quad bike and ‘helps’ while we milk the cows. In his cheerful, reassuring way, he stitched us back together. He’s helped bring back the laughter and our purpose, and life just generally feels lighter.
“Shelby has reminded us why we do what we do. He hasn’t just
joined our routine, he has become a huge part of our lives. I can’t imagine
what life would be like without him now.”
The overall winner will get to choose their stay at one of these award-winning campsites:
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Luxury camping near Hadrian's Wall. Relax, recharge, and explore the countryside with your furry friend in the heart of Northumberland.
Stylish camping and glamping along the East Lothian coastline, just on the outskirts of Edinburgh city centre.
Located in the heart of the Peak District, enjoy peace and tranquillity at this stunning adults-only campsite.
