It has been, by all accounts, a terrible year. Dead celebrities, fascism resurgent everywhere, Brexit, US President-elect Donald Trump, wars, terrorism, killer cops, Nazi frogs, Zika, bad discourse, the looming catastrophe of climate change, and the continued existences of Nigel Farage, Katie Hopkins and Piers Morgan.
But one thing that held firm, one thing that did not let us down, that could never let us down, because they are unfailingly good, one thing that continued to shine in the crater of a blasted year, was dogs. Every dog is brilliant and necessary, but here is just a small selection of the year's best boys and girls. Well done, dogs.
All the dogs who attended Laurie Anderson’s concert for dogs in New York’s Times Square, where a low-frequency time was had by all.
The American hairless terrier and the sloughi, two new breeds recognised by the American Kennel Club.
Jacques, a Scottish terrier from Orange, Massachusetts, who summoned help for fellow terrier Annabelle when she fell down an embankment.
Bo and Sunny, President Obama’s Portuguese water dogs, who were not kidnapped by a man from North Dakota.
Murphy, a golden retriever from Waterbury Center, Vermont, who went missing after a car accident and, 18 months later, finally came home.
Any dog wearing their pants on the hind legs only (as seen on the right), according to President Obama. Pants on all four legs would be “a little too conservative”, he said. It was a more innocent time.
Bella, a three-year-old golden lab from South Dakota who helped to keep her owner calm as she got married.
270 dogs in Hong Kong who set a world record for the largest dog yoga (”doga”) class alongside their owners.
Ludivine, a two-and-a-half-year-old hound from Elkmont, Alabama who snuck out of her house to join the town’s first ever half-marathon, finished seventh, and won a medal.
Nate Clooney, a terrier from Ohio who was thought to be unwanted until he was adopted by George and Amal Clooney.
All the precious sausage babies from the Heinz Super Bowl advert.
An unnamed black lab from Australia who chased off an Eastern brown snake, the deadliest snake in the country, when it crept up on his owner.
Maggie, an Australian shepherd cross who broke out of her kennel in St. Albert, Canada, to take care of two crying nine-week-old foster puppies.
Storm, a seven-year-old German shepherd from Hastings who was rescued a mile out to sea four days after being distracted by a seagull while lost after trying to catch a vandal.
Skye, a golden retriever from Centre County, Pa, who was rescued unharmed two days after falling into a 14-foot sinkhole.
Ginger Rogers, a rescue dog from Orlando, Florida, who went viral after dancing in her cage. She was adopted the next day.
Fernie, a clever two-year-old chocolate lab who works in a school near Bristol and has learned to read.
CJ, a three-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer from Temecula, CA, who won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show.
Meanwhile, Dario, a Leonberger from Rochester, New York, couldn’t really be bothered with the contest, and instead just wanted snacks from his owner’s pocket.
Adorable three-year-old shiba inu Tomi, from Hicksville, New York, not only competed at Westminster but also saved his family from a house fire.
Hatem Abuharbid’s German shepherd (name unknown) who waited for his owner, a Houston, TX convenience store worker, on his doorstep for over two weeks after he was killed in a robbery.
Mahe, a three-year-old black lab who comforts his autistic owner, nine-year-old James, and helps him communicate.
Loki, a 14-month-old pit bull mix from Idaho who survived being hit by 13 trains.
Frida, Costela, Mel and Isabelle, four former Sao Paulo street dogs who served as ball dogs in an exhibition match during the Brasil Open tennis tournament.
Humber and Atom, Arsenal footballer Alexis Sanchez’s dogs, who starred with him in an ad for dog food.
Hank, mascot dog for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, who was feared dead and replaced in a conspiracy(?)
Fido, a good boy who is not fooled at all by those creepy Boston Dynamics “dog” robots.
The golden lab in Mankato, Minnesota who stole a lorry and crashed it into a tree and a parked car.
