Dog Grin Photography
Though the venue — aptly called the Boneyard — was covered with snow, it was still a beautiful day in Madison, Wisconsin, for Shiba Inu dog pals Suki and Ron, who “married” in a ceremony on March 23, National Puppy Day.
“It was a wonderful, happy, funny experience,” says Suki’s owner Erika Nowlan, 45. “Both dogs said, ‘I Roo!’ ”
The pups met online during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing each other on aShiba PromZoom.
“His charming, forlorn-sweet facial expression warmed her heart,” says Nowlan of Ron. Though she andSukiare Madison residents and Ron and his family live in Columbus, Ohio, the dogs “are going to continue their long-distance romance,” Nowlan adds.
Suki (left) and her sister and maid of honor, Mika.Dog Grin Photography
Shiba Prom is an all-volunteer organization based in Chicago that has raised more than $100,000 to support Shiba Inu dogs rescued from unfavorable situations since 2012.
At Suki and Ron’s wedding, supporters and friends were remembering Alisa Gaylon, a founding member and former board treasurer of Shiba Prom, who died from cancer in January.
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“It was so incredibly said,” says Nowlan. “We wanted to honor her memory. In 2013, she held an in-person dog wedding for her Shiba, Zenji, at a fundraiser for a local Shiba rescue. That’s how we got the idea to do a dog wedding, and raise money for Shiba Prom.”
Shiba Prom president Shannon Andreas drove in from Northeastern Pennsylvania and officiated the ceremony, which included a traditional Jewish breaking of the glass and a rousing “Muzzle Tov!”
Says Nowlan: “It was a huge success.”
source: people.com
