Bow-wow vows: Shelter fundraiser hitches dogs Vegas-style
AVON LAKE — The bride, a 2-year-old pug named Abby, was eager in her off-the-shoulder wedding gown.
But the groom, a 7-month-old pug named Gus, seemed just a bit reluctant.
In the end, all went as planned, and the couple wed in the Las Vegas-style “Chapel of Puppy Love.”
Abby, a 2-year-old therapy dog, kept her focus on the Rev. Margaret DeFord as the minister read the wedding vows, including the promise to “refrain from biting when a simple growl will do.”
But Gus turned to the audience with a mournful look, as if he wasn’t quite sure what to think.
It was holy mutt-rimony for 20 doggedly-devoted couples at The Landings Party Center on Sunday afternoon.
The benefit raised more than $500 for Love-A-Stray and was a complete success, according to Connie Fields, who coordinates dog adoptions for the group. In exchange for a $25 donation, the owners got a certificate, a remembrance photograph and wedding cake for canines and humans alike.
After all, “dogs like their junk food like everyone else,” said Nancy Winrod of the Grateful Dog Bakery, who provided dog treats minus doggy no-no’s such as sugar and chocolate.
The wedding chapel even had a svelte Elvis in attendance to pose with the eight-legged couples for an extra $5 donation.
In addition to playing The King, Fields said that Elvis — aka Roger Schlott — and his wife, Barbara, helped rescue about 50 dogs last year at their home in Avon Lake.
One of the more amusing doggie couples was Ellie, a four-year-old Doberman, and one-year-old “Showtime” Sammie, a golden retriever.
Ellie initially turned her rear to the wedding party and didn’t seem to want to go along with the fun.
“I don’t think she liked the arranged marriage,” said June Arnesen of Carlisle Township, the owner of the dogs.
“Sammie had a ball, but Ellie didn’t like it,” said Arnesen, who fed the dogs slices of hot dogs to keep them focused on the nuptials.
After the wedding, Sammie tore off the feathers on Ellie’s “garter belt” and swallowed them, Arnesen said.
“He’s a pudding head — a big goof,” she said.
Another doggy couple was Princess Pebbles and Bam Bam, two purebred boxers owned by Curtis and Barb Melvin of Lorain.
After the ceremony, Bam Bam jumped all over Elvis.
But Princess Pebbles kept her dignity as befitting her status, Curtis Melvin said, adding “She might be pregnant.”
Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.
About Love-A-Stray
Formed in 2000 as a no-kill shelter utilizing foster homes
In 2007, a provided foster homes and assisted in finding permanent homes for 255 dogs and about 1,000 cats
Favorite recipes are due by Feb. 29 for the group’s 2008 cookbook fundraiser
For more information, go to www.love-a-stray.petfinder.com
|
| ||
 |
Filed by February 11th, 2008 in Local and State.
|
 Print this story
Read comments and discuss this story
Report an innappropriate comment
|
In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement
and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered,
click here.
If you are registered, click here to log in.
Need help? Email Us.