This week, we love Sonny the Shih tzu, who is the inspiration behind owner Sandy Noad’s children’s books; as well as Charlotte the hand-reared pig; Royal the dog-tracking bloodhound; little Mozzi the rescue dog; Storm the Abyssinian/Somali cross cat and Buddy, the adorable rescued bunny.

Scroll through the gallery of pictures above to see more...

Our main image (top) is lovely Sonny, the 13-year-old Shih tzu, who belongs to Sandy Noad of Bembridge.

She said: "Sonny is the star of my short story books for young children. We've been together since he was a puppy.

Sonny and owner, Sandy Noad.

"Sonny is my best friend and faithful companion and has kept me sane during lockdown!

"I've always wanted to write short stories about him and in 2019 I made a start.

"Through lockdown I spent a lot of time learning how to self publish on Amazon and finally made it in February this year. I illustrate the stories on my iPad and each book has a short and easy to play 16-bar song in the back.

"Sonny has made many new friends since we moved here to Bembridge five years ago and some of them will be featured throughout the series.

"He can't hear very well now and also has arthritis but still likes to act as a puppy! I love him to bits and he will always me my star!"

Her most recently published book is Merry Christmas Sonny and she is now working on Sonny’s Sleepover which she hopes to have ready before Easter. 

Sandy said: "I really enjoy writing and illustrating them and I’ve had some lovely comments from parents and grandparents who say the children ask for them to be read again!"

Royal the bloodhound.

Royal is a gorgeous six-year-old bloodhound who belongs to Kim Massey from Newport.

She said: "My bloodhound is particularly good at tracking lost dogs and we have found a few."

Buddy is such a cutie! Photo: Keith Pollard.

Buddy is a super-cute rescued rabbit who belongs to Angela Stannett of Gurnard.

He's a one-year-old mixed lion head and Angela said he had five other homes before he came to her - but he is definitely now in his forever home.

She added: "He is the most adorable rabbit you could wish for he lives with another little rescue called Radar, who is ten years old."

Storm.

The County Press team loved Storm, the Abyssinian/Somali cross cat, who lives in St Lawrence with Edward Pollard.

Storm is about six and Edward said this beautiful cat adopted him. He added: "Storm's distinctive ear was damaged by an over-excited puppy many years ago."

Mozzi on the day he was rescued.

Lovely Mozzi was one year old and was rescued by a Ryde family after they saw him living on the streets with his mum and siblings.

They said he is loving his life on the Isle of Wight now.

Charlotte, the hand-reared pig.

Finally, here at the County Press, we couldn't help but smile when we saw Laura Pritchett's photo of Charlotte the pig.

Laura, from Cowes, said: "She's one-and-a-half years old and she was hand-reared as a piglet in our home - but she is now living in a barn with the other piggies."

Would you like your favourite pet to appear in our Star Pets feature? Click on the submissions box below to send us details and pictures!