Angel Barber (pictured)

Peggy Sue Barber loves Angel, a 1-and-a-half-year-old yellow Lab, because of the attention the dog gives her baby son, Vincent. "She is so adorable with him," says Peggy Sue, 40, of Bay City, Mich. "Angel lays on the hearth when Vince plays with his truck there, she lays on the rug in his room when he sleeps, she lays under his highchair when he eats and she lays next to me or my husband when we read books to Vince."

Paris Donaldson

Natalie Donaldson, 25, of Altmore, Ala., became depressed after she had a miscarriage. So to brighten her days, she got Paris, a 3-year-old Chihuahua. "When I didn't want to face the next day or even the next hour, she was right by my side," Natalie says. "She always seemed to know when I needed her most." Fortunately, Natalie and her husband had a baby girl, Paisley, in November—and the pint-sized pooch was quick to welcome the new arrival. "Paris is constantly giving Paisley big, sloppy kisses," Natalie says.

Spike White

When Nicole White, 23, of Windermere, Fla., was a teen, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and seizures. "I used to feel lonely because I couldn't do the things my friends were doing," Nicole says. "I felt too ill most of the time." Every day has been a struggle for her, but having Spike, a 5-year-old miniature pinscher, has helped. "Spike has become more then just a dog to me, he has become like family," Nicole says.

Taylor Kelley

One day, when Patti Kelley, 51, of Akron, Ohio, was on her way home from work, she saw a small dog running in the middle of the road. So she stopped and opened her car door to go get the dog out of the busy street-and he jumped in! "It was like he was saying, 'I am getting off the streets; I am coming home with you!' Patti says of the beagle-Cairn terrier mix. The next day, Patti knocked on doors in the neighborhood until she found Taylor's owners. The owner said she couldn't take care of him, so Patti took him home for good-which is fine with her. "He's really sweet and friendly," she says. "You just can't help but smile when you see him."