THIS week people across the country will be celebrating National Pet Day.

The day acknowledges the love that people have for their pets which they see as their best friends and companions.

It was created to celebrate the joy pets bring to our lives and to create public awareness about the plight of many different kinds of animals awaiting a forever home in shelters and rescues all around the globe.

Nowadays people are encouraged to adopt their pets, even older animals which can still bring a great deal of happiness to your life.

The aim is to reduce the amount of animals that are currently living in shelters.

For most pet owners the day may as well take place every day of the year, as most of us always recognize the love and joy that they bring to our lives.

People have a whole host of different pets that they love and care for like dogs, cats, rabbits, and hamsters. But to us our own pet is the most important thing in the world.

Many of us believe that our pet is the best friend we can ever have and you're never going to find someone as loyal as your furry friend.

Dogs are of course the most popular pet, which is no surprise, and they are closely followed by cats, then of course there are fish and birds.

After this there are, hamsters, gerbils, mice, horses, and snakes.

These photos show the love that people in Cumbria have for their pets. We can see people with their animals at country shows, a woman setting up a pet care business, and a pet competition at a Scarecrow Festival.