Is there anything better than a dog?

These adorable creatures are basically the best things on earth. If you’re ever feeling down in the dumps, a dog is guaranteed to make you feel better.

They are truly man's best pals.

Whether they’re causing mischief, giving us those puppy eyes when they want a treat, or taking up the entire sofa, many of us couldn’t live without our furry friends.

Once you become a dog-parent, there's no going back...

It’s hard to imagine a life without having a pooch to come home to.

In an age where the internet is so divided, there's one thing we can all agree on...

How utterly amazing (and adorable) our 4-legged friends are.

Sadly, so many pooches are lost, abandoned or dumped - being left to fend for themselves.

Though there is some light at end of the tunnel for many of these doggos - who end up getting rescued and eventually adopted into new families.

Many animal shelters are simply overflowing...

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And, according to statistics from the Humane Society, 6 to 8 million cats and dogs enter shelters here in the U.S. each year.

But these animal shelters aren't always the safest places for these animals.

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Millions of these animals are euthanized every year due to the lack of space and people interested in adopting.

It's a devastating reality of animal homelessness.

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And statistics show that, out of the 3 million cats and dogs euthanized in shelters every year, around 2.4 million are actually healthy, and would have been fit for adoption with a new owner.

And there's one breed that tends to fill up these shelters...

...Pit bulls.

There's a huge stigma attached to Pit bulls that they are dangerous and aggressive.

Which often lands them in the pound - with no one wanting them.

But there's one rescued pit bull who has been making headlines this week.

Hansel was rescued from a Canadian dog-fighting ring by Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) back in 2015, and has been given a second chance at life. Keep scrolling to take a look at him...

After being rescued, the sweet doggo was put through a rehabilitation and training program by the Philadelphia non-profit, Throw Away Dogs.

And now, Hansel has become a critical part of the team at the Millville Fire Department in New Jersey.

Firefighter Tyler Van Leer was the person who first came up with the idea of adding an arson K-9 unit.

And he has taken responsibility for Hansel's integration into the team. “It was like an instant bond—his little head poked around the corner and it was like an instant connection. You could feel it," the dog’s handler explained to ABC.

Hansel has now made history as the first Arson-Detection K9 in the entire US.

Hansel's mother was one of over thirty pit bulls rescued from the ring. The OSPCA then filed a petition to have some of the dogs euthanized as they feared they wouldn't be able to live in normal homes, as per The Epoch Times.

Thankfully, Hansel’s mother and the others were spared thanks to a social media campaign named #Savethe21.

Amazingly, Hansel is adjusting well to his new life. “Whenever I ask him, ‘Are you ready to go to work?’ and bring out the harness, he starts doing laps around the crate," the firefighter told CNN. “Everyone here are at the firehouse loves him. He is just an awesome dog," he added. It's amazing to see a pit bull quashing the harmful stereotypes of the breed. Want more dog news? Keep scrolling to learn more about a woman who returned from vacation with a stray dog.