Actress Gemma Atkinson has hit back at claims she will "cast aside" her two dogs when she gives birth.
The former Emmerdale star – who is expecting her first baby with Strictly Come Dancing star boyfriend Gorka Marquez – showed just how much she loved her pet pooches Norman and Ollie as she shared a gushing tribute on social media.
Marking adorable Norm's seventh birthday, she wrote: "Happy 7th Birthday Norman! Thank you for being the best companion I could ask for.
"Always making me feel happy and loved and expecting only love in return.
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"You and Ollie mean so much to me (and if 1 more negative Nancy tells me you’ll have to be “cast aside” when our baby comes I’ll have to just t**t them!)
"We’re a pack. A family. And I can’t imagine my life without you both in it."
Alongside the sweet words, Gemma posted a string of snaps with her pup, which showed her cuddling him close, taking him for a walk and snuggled with her beau Gorka.
Another snap showed the two dogs adorably sitting at the table with party hats on.
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"The people that cast their dogs aside when a baby comes are not really proper dog people. Happy birthday Norman. Xxxxxxx," one follower wrote in the comments.
While another added: "Don’t listen to them! Our ridgeback was 7 when our daughter arrived. We never pushed him aside, he was her best friend and her protector."
True to her word, Gemma often treats her dogs like family on social media – even sweetly including them in her pregnancy announcement.
As she broke the exciting news on Instagram, one of the pooches was kitted out with a sign that read, "Guess what...mum's pregnant" while the other wore one which said: "We're going to be big brothers!"
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