Beth Ponsford rescued Snoop Dawg nearly five years ago, and he rescued her right back.

The 22-year-old adopted the springer-collie-labrador mix after saving him from his previous owners when he was just four months old.

Now Beth, from Chard, hopes to reward Snoop by nominating in for the Hero Assistance Dog category of the Friends for Life awards at Crufts.

Friends for Life is a celebration of just how much dogs change and improve people’s lives. Five of the finalists will got to Crufts, held once again at the NEC in Birmingham, where the winner will be announced on Sunday March 11.

Panic attacks and intense anxiety caused Beth to leave her job. She struggled to leave the house, even to go shopping.

But Beth believes Snoop is truly a one in a million pooch and his influence on her life is immeasurable.

“It was all too overwhelming,” she recalls.

“Snoop’s had a huge impact, he’s given me my independence back.

“Without him, I don’t know where I’d be right now.”

Beth’s mental health struggles are compounded by hypoglycaemia, a condition which could put her in hospital if her blood sugar gets too low.

When Snoop was a year old, Beth noticed that he kept pawing at her shortly before she would feel light-headed and faint.

After testing her blood sugar levels when he pawed, she realised he was alerting her to a drop.

But instead of enlisting a charity to train Snoop up as an assistance dog, she opted to do it herself.

“It was hard because being a rescue, he had a load of bad behaviours that you wouldn’t accept in an assistance dog,” she said.

“But when we go out shopping, one of the worst places for me, he’ll block and cover people from getting too close, which is one thing that sets off panic attacks.

“He also performs deep-pressure therapy when I get far too anxious.”

Deep-pressure therapy refers to the application of pressure from actions like hugging, cuddling or stroking. It has a calming effect on the subject.

And while Snoop has a soothing effect when necessary, the springer spaniel sometimes comes out.

“He’s got the mentality of a lab and the colours of a collie, but I think the springer’s in his feet because he’s always bouncing when he’s held off,” Beth concludes.

“He’s probably the best dog I could ask for.

“I am so glad he chose me to save him.”

People can vote for the dog they want to win by visiting the Crufts website, with the victor receiving £5,000 from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust to donate to a dog charity of their choice and runners-up £1,000.