A woman started dog sitting during a difficult time in her life, and became so close with his owners, she was invited to their baby shower and wedding day.
Alison Moss, 60, from Leicestershire, had to say goodbye to her senior Labrador at the same time her husband became terminally ill in 2020.
But just when she thought there was not light in her life, Labrador Teddy came into her world and a lovely friendship blossomed.
Once strangers and now extended family, owners Jessica, 28, and Caedo, 31, formed such a bond with Alison, they invited her to their big day and have asked her to babysit their new baby boy.
Alison says it's all thanks to BorrowMyDoggy for bringing them together.
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Alison has been a lifelong animal lover, and when a retired guide dog went up for adoption over a decade ago, she set her heart on rehoming him.
Yellow Labrador Sam was the "absolute perfect" companion to Alison and had a "wonderful life" by her side.
When her husband Dave was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour two years ago, Sam was there to comfort Alison.
"He was my best friend. Everything that I was going through, Sam was there there for me to cry to and talk to," she said.
Shortly after Dave went into a care home, Sam suddenly passed away at the age of 14.
Alison couldn't bring herself to replace him.
"Everyone told me to get another dog, but when your dog has been the best thing in your life, it's hard," she explained.
At the beginning of last year, Alison discovered BorrowMyDoggy online and registered to borrow a stranger's dog.
She spotted a two-year-old yellow Labrador on the website that looked "identical" to her dog Sam, and just "knew this was it".
Teddy's owners, Jessica and Caedo, both worked full-time and were looking for a dog sitter during the day.
"Teddy was young and fit and loved going out," Alison said.
The first time Alison took Teddy out for a walk, she left her car at Jessica's - so she knew she would come back.
Alison and Teddy soon bonded and began going on long walks twice a week.
Teddy filled a doggy hole in Alison's heart, and then she built a bonus friendship with Jessica and Caedo.
"I started having Teddy overnight if they were away," Alison said.
When Jessica fell pregnant, Alison was invited to the baby shower - which turned out to be a surprise wedding.
"They shocked everyone and got married. I was sitting on the table with their family," Alison recalled. "It was fabulous."
Last month, Jessica gave birth to a baby boy, and asked Alison to step up from dog sitter to babysitter.
"I can't believe it's developed from borrowing a dog to gaining two lovely friends, going to their wedding and now the baby is here, I'm going to help look after the baby too," she said.
"All from one website and having the courage to sign up."
Alison raves about BorrowMyDoggy whenever she takes Teddy for a walk, and couldn't recommend the website enough.
She is adamant that she'll never get a dog of her own, and can't see herself ever borrowing another dog - Teddy is the perfect match for her.
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