We had recently lost our own Jack Russell, Spotty, and for her sake (she was a rescue dog) we wanted to rehome another. Missy was long legged and rough coated, but on our first meeting, she took a treat from us, oh so gently, just as our darling Spotty did. We knew she was the one for us.

What makes Missy so special? Her sheer exuberance - she is about nine years old and is in love with life. She goes to agility classes, where she's the star of the show, and we even made her some hurdles for her to jump at home. She does it, and all the while there is this big beautiful grin. She's having so much fun and the joy in her life spills over into ours.

She is such an inquisitive girl, and if we do something new, she cocks her head at us, as if to say "what is this you're up to now?"

There is mischief in her eyes, and it delights our hearts to see it - it has even given rise to her second name MissyChief. We wouldn't be without her - she's a girl in a million - and while we were sad she had such a long stay in Battersea - we are so glad they kept her, while she waited for us!

Pat & Paul Elliot, Dagenham, Essex