LIFE-saving dog BUTTONS is more than at home at the Kennel Club – firmly in the shadow of Buckingham Palace.

The regal, silver-haired Shih Tzu attended the Friends for Life launch in London this week alongside 19-year-old Hannah Gates, from Lester Grove in Hazlemere, as one of the finalists in the Man’s Best Friend category for Crufts.

Hannah has owned her Shih Tzu Buttons since 2013. In the Summer of 2014 Hannah was diagnosed with a near fatal case of Ulcerative Colitis, spending two weeks in a High Dependency Unit as a result.

During the fortnight she was in hospital she had various procedures and scans, multiple blood transfusions, episodes of seizures and complete unconsciousness.

When she was eventually discharged from hospital, she was welcomed home by a very enthusiastic Shih Tzu, Buttons.

Throughout her recovery, Buttons did not leave her side. For the entire summer holidays she would dote on her, making sure she was comfortable and comforting her at any time she needed her and during those few months they created and developed a bond that is now very poignant in their everyday life.

A year after the illness, Hannah had become overweight due to an intense course of steroids, so she decided to get into sport upon her doctor's recommendation. Not really a sporty person, she struggled to decide what to do and find any motivation, but with Buttons she discovered dog agility and hasn’t looked back since.

“Ever since I could speak I wanted a dog, so to persuade my parents to get one was absolutely amazing,” recalls Hannah, a first-year photography student at Amersham and Wycombe College.

“When we got Buttons, we didn’t know anything about my condition but we’d been backwards and forwards to doctors with various ailments and been misdiagnosed quite a lot.

“It all came to a head when I was admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital with a near-fatal case of ulcerative colitis, which is ulcers within the large intestine – not very pleasant at all!

“But Buttons helped me through my recovery, and hasn’t really left my side since I got discharged from hospital.”

Thankfully, the pair can get on with activities they really enjoy now – namely, dog agility. They train at the Ace of Dogs club in Little Kingshill, if Buttons approves of the weather.

“She’s a bit of a diva in the snow or the rain. She’ll dip one paw in and go back inside!” says Hannah.

“Because I was on steroids to help heal the ulcers, I got quite overweight because I was eating a lot and not really doing very much, so my doctor recommended me to do exercise.

“I’m not really a sporty person so I hated the idea at first. I was like, ‘What are you trying to do to me!’ “But we did some research and we landed upon dog agility and we haven’t looked back since. Buttons and I absolutely love it. She’s encouraged me to actually get out and do something, rather than just sitting at home all day and just let my condition rule me.

“She’ll detect if I’m feeling a bit rubbish, be more clingy and let me and my parents know if there’s a flare-up coming – not directly, but she’ll give little hints through her behaviour.

“She’s been a massive help. She’s just amazing, she’s so in tune with me.

“We call her Velcro dog because she just doesn’t leave my side – ever!

“I walk her, feed her, groom her, play with her, do everything with her.”

Now, Hannah and Buttons will travel to Birmingham next week to participate in the Friends for Life final at Crufts.

Friends for Life is a celebration of just how much dogs change and improve people’s lives. Five of the finalists will go to the 127th edition of Crufts – where every dog has its day – held once again at the NEC in Birmingham, where the winner will be announced on Sunday, March 11.

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.

Hannah has been to the famous show in the past, but never expected to be going with her beloved Buttons.

“I heard about it a few years ago and this year, I went for it to see what happens. I let the Kennel Club do their thing – if they like it, then they’ll get back to us,” she says.

“I didn’t really expect a phone call back - I didn’t realise it was that influential and that inspiring. It’s probably a stupid thing to say, but to me, it didn’t seem like that big a deal.

“But the stuff that she’s done has been amazing and it would be great for her to get recognition, it would be wonderful.

“She’s just adapted so well, from being bought as a family pet to actually helping me through my condition and my recovery and everything else, effortlessly.

“We were nominated for Man’s Best Friend, and that really sums her up. She is my best friend and will never leave my side, ever!

“I’m so looking forward to going to Crufts! I’ve been twice before, but I’ve never been with Buttons so it’s definitely going to be a learning experience, but a very exciting one and I can’t wait.”

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.