Tyson – now Hudson – soaks up the sun in his new home. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
Ashlee Pride and Jason Searle had four kids and two dogs at home when they went on a Bunnings run – and ended up with a new furry addition to their family.
One-year-old staffie cross Tyson was one of the first pups through the doors of Wollongong City Council’s new pet adoption service, Wollongong Pet Connection, back in April.
Despite his sweet nature, Tyson had three no-show meet and greets and two unsuccessful meet and greets.
Things were looking dire, until he went on a trip to Bunnings.
“For some people Kmart is their kryptonite, for us it’s Bunnings,” Ashlee said.
“He was sitting there in his kennel, really calm and so cute.
“We’re suckers for animals; we could afford the extra mouth and the bit extra for worming, so we thought why not?”
Ruby went home with them first, but their older dog, nine-year-old Arlo, said Ruby wasn’t the playmate she was looking for.
Next they tried Tyson, and within a few hours all three dogs were the best of friends.
Now he has a new name, Hudson, to go along with his new family.
“He just fit,” Ashlee said.
“Arlo sometimes looks at Hudson like ‘ugh, you’re still here,’ but then you’ll see them sleep or play together,” Ashlee said.
“Hudson and Kena, our 10-month-old pup, are almost too together, they do laps around the yard together when they’ve tired Arlo out.
“Arlo is really Queen Muck, and Hudson and Kena know their place on the ladder.”
It’s not just the furry members of the family who love Hudson.
Ashlee said one of their children, who has autism, has a special connection with the dogs, and they adore him right back.
Hudson now enjoys going on the school run in the morning and afternoon, playing with his dog and human siblings, and curling up in his doggy bed next to Mum and Dad’s bed at night.
Ashlee said despite her dog allergy, she was stoked her family was able to help so many pups in need of a loving home.
“People ask why an extra dog and it’s like why an extra child,” Ashlee said.
“Once you have a couple, another one isn’t a big change, and we know it’s saving a life to adopt.
“Rather than having somebody breed a dog we’re saving somebody that’s been left out or abused.
“We wanted to give them the best they could get.”
She had a few words of wisdom for anyone else looking to adopt.
“You have to be mindful that they could have had negative experiences,” she said.
“We can’t use a fly swatter in front of one of our dogs, they’re too scared. You don’t know what they’ve been through, so you learn with them.”
Most importantly, that it’s worth looking a bit deeper than a dog’s appearance.
“Temperament is most important; if they will be a good fit with your family and other pets,” she said.
“Tyson’s not a looker; we think he looks a bit like a hyena. He’s clumsy, ditsy and has no spatial awareness – but then neither do I!
“But he’s a perfect gentleman with the best personality. He’s a loving, sweet, boofhead with an old soul.”
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