After a long-overdue holiday, Meaghan Thompson had just returned to work.
Feeling dejected at the post-vacation return to normal programming, she slumped on the couch and started scrolling through social media.
It was there she noticed a university friend was advertising some pugs.
Next thing Ms Thompson knew, she was at her friend’s house, looking at some pups to cheer her up.
She had no intention of purchasing any of them, until, that is, she looked into the eyes of one of them.
“She sort of just turned her head and looked at me, like ‘what’s up human?’” Ms Thompson said.
“And I was just like, this dog gets me.”
She had to have this pug.
Her excitement was quickly quelled once she purchased her new four-legged friend.
“The price was a bit of a shock,” Ms Thompson said.
“I started to stress out, like, was this a really bad impulse buy?
“I was worried about leaving her alone and whether I could look after her properly.
“Six years later, she’s changed my life.”
Growing up, Ms Thompson’s favourite book was Hazel’s Amazing Mother.
When naming her new dog, her sister suggested she call her Hazel, so Ms Thompson could indeed become Hazel’s amazing mother.
As for a nickname, Ms Thompson explains Hazelnut is appropriate. Because, well, she’s nuts.
“She loves to run around, go crazy, and soak up the sun.”
Hazel also loves to “love bomb” people.
“I always tell people to be careful and not look into her eyes, but they don’t believe me,” Ms Thompson said.
“They realise I was serious when Hazel launches herself on to them.”
Hazel also likes to “lick her victims”.
These days, Hazel is a hybrid indoor-outdoor dog; indoors when Ms Thompson is home and outdoors when she’s not.
This is because of an unfortunate incident where Ms Thompson returned home one day to a mess after Hazel got a hold of some food packaging.
Hazel’s energy is infectious and leads Ms Thompson on various quests and adventures on their walks together.
Ms Thompson acknowledges she may be biased, but says she is backed up by friends and family, when she claims Hazel is the ‘cutest dog ever’.
Across the six years she’s had Hazel, they have fully understood each other.
Ms Thompson can read Hazel’s subtle tells and signs and knows when she needs to eat, go to the bathroom or get out of the house.
And in return, Hazel is Ms Thompson’s little supporter.
As a nurse, Ms Thompson always puts other people first.
Her life has always been her work, looking after the injured and unwell.
But Hazel has quietly seen Ms Thompson’s priorities shift, alongside ensuring she always has someone in her corner.
Hazel is always there for her when she’s down, capable of making her feel better with the turn of a head and a little look.
Looking back, Ms Thompson says it was the best purchase she ever made.
“She’s very special to me,” she said.
“I wouldn’t trade a second with Hazel for all the money in the world.”