By NICOLE VALICEK
Paul and Sharon McLay were introduced by their beloved pets and had a fairy tale wedding. 108718 Picture: SUPPLIED
YOU would be barking mad to deny destiny was not at play the day Paul and Sharon McLay met.
It was 2008 and a day like any other when the two strangers from Williamstown decided to walk their dogs – or so they thought.
Sharon was walking her red and blue heelers Meg and Mae while Paul was with his own blue heeler Minh.
Both were walking near the time ball tower in Williamstown when in a strange turn of events both of their dogs ran into some shrubbery, emerged and returned to the opposite owner.
The strangers were forced to meet by their respective canines and the start of a strong and unexpected friendship developed.
“Something was going on we just didn’t realise it,” Sharon said.
“We never organised to catch up at the dog park and walk. We’d just always see each other. We’d walk together for a good hour, and the dogs would play.”
“We found we were really good friends. We were talking to each other about anything and anything which was rare for both of us. We both found it a little bit interesting.”
The friendship went on for three years until a kiss in February 2011 changed everything.
The pair again randomly met up when both were out with friends at the Pirates Tavern.
“Finally we had a kiss, someone had to do something. We finally did and here we are in 2013 married.”
The couple married in September this year with Sharon describing the experience as “a bit of dog magic”.
“It felt like it was meant to be, but it felt like the dogs were quite keen on it.”
“Our advice to anybody is to love a dog and find a nice person walking it, it sounds really corny but it worked for us.”
She hoped their story could inspire optimism in others.
“We both had to have open hearts and minds we’d both been in other relationship that hadn’t worked, we both vowed not to get into another one, both of us said we weren’t going to do that.
“It just felt magical and I hope other folk can have an open heart and open mind to the prospects for life.
“You never know when you will meet someone so perfect, who just turns your whole attitude around.”
The couple asked that their wedding guests donate to Edgars Mission farm sanctuary instead of giving them gifts.
The couple live in Newport with their four dogs.
