Hugs: Potato the puppy cuddles new owner Charlize Sharp on the day he was adopted.
A dog dumped on the side of the road at Strathmerton as a tiny puppy has found a new home where he can expect to sleep on his new owner’s bed every night.
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Potato was found by passers-by when he was only about four weeks old, dumped on the side of a road at Strathmerton and covered in fleas.
This week, he found his fur-ever home with 17-year-old Charlize Sharp and her dad, Tim Bond, in Melbourne.
Potato’s rescuers believe it is a match made in heaven, with Charlize keen to get a new dog after the death of her dog Murphy.
Family: Potato the dog has a new home with Melbourne’s Charlize Sharp and her dad, Tim Bond.
Murphy’s death was particularly hard on the teenager, who also lost her mother when she was 13 years old.
Murphy had been a living link to Charlize’s mum, as Murphy was her dog and Charlize would sleep with the dog every night.
“Her and Murphy were inseparable. He would sleep with her every night,” Tim said.
Cute: Charlize Sharp, 17, formed a bond with her new puppy Potato as soon as she met him.
“She couldn’t sleep after we lost him.”
When she picked Potato up on Sunday, Charlize already had plans for him.
“I plan to have him in bed tonight,” she said.
“I think he will do her the world of good, and me too,” Tim said.
Charlize said she was first drawn to Potato by his adoption profile on GV Pet Adoption and Rehoming’s website after noticing a facial quirk.
“I saw his eyebrow. It’s cute,” she said.
Mates: Charlize Sharp already plans to cuddle up to her new puppy Potato in bed each night.
“And he reminds me of my dog, who passed away.
“And to give a dog a home is a special thing.”
And little Potato has come a long way since he was found dumped and first came into the hands of foster carers from Goulburn Valley Pet Adoption and Rehoming.
Foster carer Steph Sparrow said Potato weighed only 2kg when he was found, and she could hold him in one hand “like a potato” — thus his name.
At 12 weeks old, Potato is already showing he will be a big boy — weighing in at 12kg.
The team: Potato the puppy with his helpers and new family, A Waggin’ Good Time dog trainer Jasmine Murfett, new owners Charlize Sharp and Tim Bond, Goulburn Valley Pet Adoption and Rehoming foster carer Steph Sparrow and A Waggin’ Good Time owner Clinton Hawthorn.
After there were no real bites initially to have Potato adopted out, he was sent to A Waggin’ Good Time Pet Resort at Zeerust to undergo puppy training for two weeks.
Owner Clinton Hawthorn said the training included the dog learning how to react to different tones used when spoken to by his owner and basically how to live in a house.
He will also return to Zeerust in a month’s time for more training with his owners.
New start: Potato the puppy will have a new home with Charlize Sharp and her dad Tim Bond. It is a long way from when he was found abandoned as a puppy on the side of the road.
Steph is pleased with all the work that has been put into Potato and how he has responded to it.
“It’s worth it for Potato to find his new home,” she said.
She is also pleased with the home he is going to.
“Kids and dogs — the benefits are incredible for health and wellbeing,” she said.
Potato met his new family at a meet and greet at A Waggin’ Good Time on Sunday, where he was surrounded by those who had taken care of him since he was rescued and a few of his canine mates.
Goodbye: Potato the puppy gets a hug goodbye from A Waggin’ Good Time owner Clinton Hawthorn.
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