A CORK dog has gone from “wags to riches” after going from living in the pound to spending his nights in a strip club.

Adorable Hudson is upstaging most of the dancers in Fallen Angels gentleman’s club, where he has been recruited to help with staff morale. The Leitrim Street club owner Sean Walsh adopted the puppy from an animal shelter after his own dog Leo was killed in a house fire last December.

While Sean was relieved that the rest of his family escaped death, he still felt heartbroken for Leo. Nonetheless, Hudson is helping ease the pain — spending seven nights a week by his side at the club.

“Hudson is getting the kind of attention that a lot of guys pay big money for,” Sean said. “The whole idea of bringing Hudson into the club was that we could make a family out of the place. He’s there to cheer everyone up but he probably cheers me up the most.”

Staff members at the establishment are all playing their role in looking after and helping socialise the shepherd mix.

“He is spoilt rotten. Being in the club really suits him because he gets so much attention.

“He meets all sorts of interesting people who pass through each night.”

Hudson’s first night at the club saw him showered with love.

“As soon as Hudson came in he was mobbed by the girls,” Sean said.

The entrepreneur said he often jokes that when Hudson is fully grown his security team may be out of a job.

“I always hang that over the doorman’s head,” he said. “When he’s fully grown we are going to get him a vest with the word security on. It will be just for fun though. Hudson is not going to be trained in that way. He’s here as a pet — end of.”

Sean has come a long way since that heartbreaking day he lost his dog Leo last year.

“I got a call while I was in the club last December to say that my house was on fire.

“The kids got out but sadly Leo died of smoke inhalation. Money is just money but we did lose a lot of sentimental items in the fire too, which was quite difficult.”

Sean recalled the first time he set eyes on Hudson.

“When I went to the pound I spotted him and knew he was the one. Visitors to the club who wouldn’t generally like dogs are falling over Hudson when they come in. People from the neighbourhood bring him treats when they’re passing. Sometimes they’ll turn up at the door and ask if we can bring him out.”

Sean confessed it was a while before he could bring himself to adopt another dog.

“The children missed Leo so much. I wasn’t sure if we were ready yet so I initially went to visit the animal shelter by myself. When I brought the children they fell in love with Hudson too. He’s brought a bit of fun back into our house.”

He encouraged anyone considered getting a pet to adopt a rescue dog.

“There are so many dogs out there that need rescuing,” he said. “There are enough dogs being bought so I knew that I wanted to get one from a shelter.”

To enquire or find out more about adopting a rescue dog visithttp://cspca.ie/category/dog-adoption/