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You may have heard the names Jaimie and Tash Sultana before, but have you heard about Mate Sultana?
He’s the newest addition to the Sultana family and came to them through a dream (literally!). See the Instagram announcement here.
Mate (formally Marvello) was waiting for his loving home at Starting Over Dog Rescue and didn’t realise he had manifested for Jaimie and Tash to adopt him.
Jaimie shared with us that she had a very vivid dream,
"I had a dream where I was sitting by the waterfall near our rural property, and our Kelpie-who passed away in 2025 - was there with a large, gentle, white dog with blue eyes. He had a white feather in his mouth, which is something we associate with signs from the spirit world. In the background, I could hear Frank Sinatra playing, and I had a strong sense that the dog's name began with an 'M'-initially, I thought of ‘Merv.’
Out of curiosity, we searched phrases like "white dog Merv Frank Sinatra," and to our amazement, Marvello (Mate) appeared (on PetRescue).
We couldn't believe it. We enquired immediately, and within a week, he was home with us."
The description on Mate’s PetRescue profile written by Starting Over Dog Rescue via the PetRescue platform.
“We had previously owned dogs and currently have two dachshunds, but, this was our first time adopting. One of the main reasons was that we didn't want to go through the puppy stage again. More importantly, we felt we were in a position to provide an adult dog with a loving home.
“He's certainly very different from a dachshund! But from the moment we saw him, we were drawn in - he's incredibly handsome. He also seemed to be the perfect fit in terms of size, age, and temperament, which made the decision feel very natural.”
In 2025, Jaimie and Tash tragically lost three dogs in the space of six weeks, a traumatic experience they never thought they would recover from (Read the full story here). But since Mate joined their family, he has brought laughter and personality into everyday moments.
“He's been a great addition to the family, getting on very well with his two mini sausage dog brothers."
Mate (left) with his brothers, Billie (middle) and Ringo (right).
"He's filled the hole we had since losing our other three dogs so suddenly.”
“There are quite a few things that make us laugh! One of his funniest habits is the way he slowly slides off the bed or couch until only his back legs are stretched out - it’s very entertaining to watch.
He also seems to have a strong fondness for carbohydrates. He's managed to steal and eat several loaves of bread, pearl couscous, and even Weet-Bix. As a result, we've had to install a lock on our pantry!”
We asked Jaimie and Tash about their adoption journey and whether it had felt daunting or scary, especially as first-time adopters.
“Honestly, not at all, it was quite straightforward. The most nerve-wracking part was waiting to find out if we'd been approved, and then hoping the dog we had already formed a connection with would suit our family.
Starting Over Dog Rescue were fantastic. We had a thorough phone conversation with the foster carer, where we both asked plenty of questions to ensure it would be the right fit for both Mate and our family. The process felt thoughtful and supportive, and we were very impressed with their care and professionalism.”
Jaimie and Tash reflect on why Mate is truly one in a million.
“He's beautiful, friendly, loving, and has given us that missing piece we didn’t know if we would ever find again.”
Every day with him is a reminder of the joy and companionship that comes from giving a rescue dog a second chance at a loving home.
Follow Jaimie and Tash on Instagram to see updates about Mate!
One Million Pets, One Million Loving Homes
One million pets have found loving homes through the PetRescue platform, each connection made possible by a simple idea: pets need to be seen, and the right person needs to find them at the right time. This milestone belongs to rescue organisations across Australia, the adopters, foster carers, volunteers, and donors who make it all happen.
All images provided by Jaimie and Tash Sultana.
Title reference: ‘Ain’t It Kinda Funny’ by Tash Sultana feat. City and Colour, from the Return to the Roots EP (2025).
