A disabled dog with a heart of gold is bringing smiles to hospitals and schools across the city of Liverpool.
Jack the border collie was once an unwanted 10-week-old puppy, left with only one eye after being stood on during an accident with his litter.
Judith Hulse, 53, from Formby, "fell in love with his sad little face" on a Facebook advertisement and just had to adopt him and take him home.
Eight years on, Jack is now a Therapy Dogs Nationwide volunteer and regularly visits Southport Hospital and Queenscourt Hospice to cheer up the staff and patients in critical care.
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When Jack was five years old, Judith took him into her mother's care home and saw how much the elderly loved spending time with him.
His calm presence and relaxing nature led Judith to sign him up as a therapy dog for Therapy Dogs Nationwide.
Jack Daniels is one of three border collies living with Judith, alongside 12-year-old Guinness and 11-year-old Tia - all named after popular spirits - but he is the only one able to be a therapy dog.
"Jack isn't your typical border collie at all. He's the complete opposite, very calm and easygoing," Judith explained.
He loves walks on the beach every morning and most enjoys going to hospital wards to meet new people.
"Before the pandemic, we would visit all the different wards, from spinal injuries to the stroke unit, intensive care and critical care. They would request visits from Jack," Judith explained.
"Now we aren't allowed to visit the wards, so we just go in for the staff every fortnight."
Judith says Jack's missing eye is a "great icebreaker" for children, and people naturally gravitate towards him.
"We could be in a critical care unit with people at the end of their lives. Families will be sat round the bed and seeing a one-eyed dog helps to break the tension," Judith explained.
She said the best thing about volunteering is "seeing the smile on people's faces when they meet Jack".
"He helps them relax and open up, and I like to think he's done a good deed before they go on to an appointment or operation," she said.
As well as being popular with locals, Jack has become somewhat of a national superstar, after he made it to the final of BBC1's Pooch Perfect last year.
Judith couldn't be prouder of her border collie, and says it's so nice to be able to do amazing things together.
"Working for Therapy Dogs Nationwide is great stimulation for the both of us," she said.
"Jack was once a little puppy nobody wanted and in a way, we've rescued each other."
If you're a school, care home, hospice or hospital local to Formby and would like a visit from Jack, please get in touch with Therapy Dogs Nationwide on enquiries@tdn.org.uk or 07840 994 003.
Do you have a dog story to sell? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
