Veteran Honors Beloved Service Dog by Making Him the Best Man at His Wedding

Service dogs play an important part in the lives of the people they serve. Whether they are acting in the capacity as a comfort or support animals, these dedicated animals are indispensable to their owners. In many cases, a service dog’s owner views them as more than just a helper, but as a best friend as well. This is the case with Justin Lansford and his service dog Gabe.

To read more on this story, click here: Veteran Honors Beloved Service Dog by Making Him the Best Man at His Wedding

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Did You Know That Balloon Releases Are Detrimental to wildlife and Marine Animals?

For years, balloon releases have been used to celebrate events or honor the memory of someone lost. Schools release them during football games, they’re sent floating into the air at running events, and released by crowds of people at weddings, funerals, and memorials. And while those who organize and participate in balloon releases have the best of intentions, what they fail to consider is what happens when those balloons eventually land – and when they do the results are detrimental to wildlife and marine animals.

The Long-Lasting Impact of Balloons
Balloons negatively impact our environment by littering streams, lakes, and beaches. It’s basically the same as intentionally throwing trash on the ground or into the ocean. Even balloons marketed as biodegradable or “eco-friendly” can still take years to disintegrate, meaning they’re not any better for the environment than standard balloons.

When balloons make their way into the water, their tattered ends and floating pieces can resemble jellyfish or other sea life consumed by marine animals such as sea turtles, fish, and dolphins. When the pieces of latex or Mylar are mistaken for food and ingested, they can get lodged in the digestive tract, inhibiting animal’s ability to eat and causing a slow and painful death by starvation.

Wildlife can also fall victim to balloons and balloon strings when the pieces fall to the ground or onto trees and bushes. Birds have been found injured with ribbons wrapped around their beaks or wings, and have strangled themselves when they become entangled in strings attached to trees or power lines. And just like marine animals, they can succumb to a painful death after ingesting balloons.

The negative impact on animals and the environment prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local chapters of the National Audubon Society to urge people to stop releasing balloons and instead find more humane alternatives that are safer for animals and our planet. Several states and cities in the U.S. and abroad have also passed laws regarding mass balloon releases after years of witnessing their detrimental effects.

What You Can Do
If you know of someone planning a balloon release, please urge them to consider one of these earth- and animal-friendly options instead. There are so many other symbolic acts that don’t involve the use of balloons. We’ve listed a few options for you below, and you can find more by visiting this website that offers not only fun alternatives but educational materials to help you spread awareness about the dangers of balloons and balloon releases.

Bubbles
Bubbles are not only fun but can create stunning photo ops. Watching hundreds of bubbles float up into the sky can be mesmerizing and just as symbolic as seeing a balloon float away, but without the resulting of litter and endangerment to wildlife and marine animals.

Luminaries
Luminaries are a beautiful way to honor and memorialize loved ones. Instead of writing messages on balloons and releasing them, you can write messages on recycled paper bags or reusable glass jars with candles placed inside to create a lighted path, or spell out a word or name. Each person can bring their bag or jar home afterward as a personal keepsake to remember the event.

Plant a Tree
Planting native trees and wildflowers is a beautiful way to create a memory that lasts for years to come – and give a little something back to nature.  Another fun idea is to have people release milkweed seeds, which helps populations of monarch butterflies thrive by replenishing depleted supplies of the milkweed plant that is essential to their survival.  Just remember: If you choose to plant trees or flowers somewhere other than your own yard, make sure you have prior permission if it’s a public park or nature area, as they often have restrictions about potentially invasive species of plants.

Celebrations and commemorative events are meant to allow us to reflect on important times in our lives, there is no reason these should come at the expense of wild animals.

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The New Trend - Dogs Participating In Wedding Ceremonies

According to the American Kennel Club, nearly 20 percent of dog owners include their dog in their wedding. While dogs are most common, bridal planners also see cats, rabbits, birds, horses, and reptiles. A pet might serve as flower girl or best man.

Would you consider having your dog participate in your wedding? Dogs are becoming the new untraditional participants in wedding ceremonies. They are either being entrusted with roles such as ring bearers, bridesmaids, and groomsmen or are simply present during the ceremony to bear witness to their owner’s nuptials. This is probably because dogs are the most socially acceptable pet to be seen out and about with in public and also because they can be trained quite easily to perform at your wedding.

There are many advantages of having your pet participate in your wedding day.  It’s a lovely way to personalize your wedding day and to bring a smile to everyone’s faces. You don’t have to dress your pet in a tuxedo to raise a smile from your guests - the novelty of a pet being present at your wedding will be enough to make them smile.

It also makes your wedding less of a formal occasion and can lighten up the mood which is always a good thing. Weddings are not supposed to be somber affairs!

Finally, if you do not have nieces, nephews or little ones to act as flower girls or ring bearer, then a pet is a perfect alternative! In the same way they love to see a cute flower girl or ring bearer walking up the aisle…they will enjoy seeing a dog walk down the aisle, it brings a fun element to the wedding.

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This Giraffe Is The Best Wedding Photobomber Anyone Could Hope For

After Tristan Burns and Luke Karshagen said their vows on Saturday, their photographer suggested they take their wedding party to a nearby picturesque park for great lighting and a beautiful backdrop.

That much is typical for any wedding photo scenario. But this couple got an extra scenic addition to their shoot at Areena Riverside Resort near East London, South Africa: a curious giraffe named Abby.

“Areena always has wildlife roaming around, but I really wasn’t expecting Abby to pop his head among the trees,” Burns tells Yahoo. “Honestly, I was a little worried at first. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, nor did I know the nature of Abby. He just popped his head out of the trees. He must have heard us and just came waltzing into our party.”

Photographer Stephanie Norman has shot at Areena before, but this was the first time her subjects had ever been photobombed by a giraffe. While the wedding party was all rather startled by the enormous creature — even in South Africa, this is rather unusual — he soon put them at ease.

To read more on this story, click here: This Giraffe Is The Best Wedding Photobomber Anyone Could Hope For

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Who Gets The Pets In A Divorce? What You Need To Consider When Fighting Over Fido

You might think of your dog as your fur child, but the law would not agree.

“In the eyes of the law, they are really no different than the silverware, the cars, the home,” says Joyce Tischler, director of litigation for the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

But in more and more American homes, splitting the pets could get pretty contentious.

Consider the numbers. Sixty-three percent — 71.1 million — of U.S. households own pets, according to the latest National Pet Owners Survey. The bulk of those animals are dogs — about 44 million. Americans are expected to spend about $41 billion on their pets this year, a $24 billion increase since 1994, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

Then throw in lifestyle and societal changes: more couples have fewer children than a generation or two ago and view their pets as their kids or companions, owners pay $2,000 for an orthopedist to reconstruct a dog’s knee; designers such as Isaac Mizrahi create pink trench coats and white tulle bridal dresses for the fashion-conscious canine whose owner shops at Target, and high-end pet stores sell rhinestone-studded dog collars, peanut butter biscotti instead of run-of-the-mill dog treats, and strollers for the walking-averse pampered pooch.

“When you put all of that together, it’s no wonder that we’re beginning to see an increasing number of custody battles involving companion animals,” Tischler says.

The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers conducted a poll of 1,500 members and nearly a quarter said they had noticed an increase in custody issues of pets. Judges have had to determine not only who gets the dog but whether one party has the right even to see the dog after the marriage breaks up.

To read more on this story, click here: Who Gets The Pets In A Divorce? What You Need To Consider When Fighting Over Fido

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In Place of Bouquets of Flowers, the Wedding Party Posed with Adorable Rescue Puppies

When planning a wedding, there's a lot that has to be arranged. The flowers, the venue, the dress, the food — and for one wedding that took place recently, the puppies.

Sarah Mallouk Crain works for Pitties Love Peace, a rescue organization in central Pennsylvania. She and her now husband, Matt Crain, are huge animal lovers and have three rescue dogs of their own, and often foster dogs waiting for their forever homes as well. When they decided to get married, it seemed only fitting that they should include their shared love of dogs on their big day. 

And so, in place of bouquets of flowers, the wedding party posed with adorable puppies.

Photographer Caroline Logan photographed the wedding party with six tiny rescue puppies, each with their own unique story.

"Having the puppies involved in the wedding brought so much additional joy to Matt and Sarah's day," Logan told The Dodo. "Though they weren't a part of the ceremony, they were involved in their portrait time."

Martha, Abigail, Dolley, Elizabeth and Louisa (named after the first few first ladies), are a litter of boxer-coonhound puppies who were rescued when they were just under a week old. They are now 8 weeks old and thriving in their loving foster homes, and absolutely loved posing with Crain's bridesmaids.

Biggie Smalls is a 9-week-old pit bull mix puppy rescued from the streets of Brooklyn, New York, and he was the lucky pup chosen to pose with the bride herself.

"The puppies of course caused the photos to be extra natural, candid, and carefree — exactly what I strive for in my work," Logan said. "The wedding party was loving all the puppy snuggles."

Even the groom and his groomsmen got to get in on the fun, and there was no shortage of smiles with the puppies around.

The puppies were all on their very best behavior for the wedding, and proved without a doubt that they were definitely a better choice than flowers. 

If you're interested in adopting one of the wedding puppies, you can fill out an application with Pitties Love Peace to get started.

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Woman from Bengaluru, India, Asked to Abandon Pet Dog for Arranged Marriage: Turned Down Proposal

Bengaluru, India – A woman turned into social media’s newest rage after she turned down a marriage proposal because the prospective groom had a disliking for dogs. 

Soon after Karishma Walia posted her final WhatsApp conversation with her suitor on Facebook, it went viral and created a buzz on social media. 

Originally from Bengaluru, Karishma currently works with Delloitte India in Gurgaon. 

“It was an arranged marriage set-up. This guy was good to talk to, well-to-do and pretty good looking, but when I told him that I wanted to bring my dog with me after marriage, he wasn't keen on it,” Karishma Walia was quoted by Times of India as saying. 

When Karishma told her suitor about her desire and love for her dog, he texted, “I dont’t want a dog to come in my love life and not share the same bed... That’s for sure... And my mom doesn’t like dogs in general.”

Karishma, a passionate animal lover, did not think twice before clearly indicating how much Lucy, her dog meant for her. Incidentally, Lucy even shares her surname – Walia. 

The prospective groom tried to convince Karishma suggesting that her love for the pet could be a temporary phase. Karishma did not take too kindly to it texted back, saying, “Having a dog is definitely not a temporary phase. I can't abandon my dog for anyone.”

Annoyed with her reply, her suitor texted: “I am sorry to say this. But please marry the dog in that case.”

“He couldn't digest the fact that a dog can be someone's priority. I am OK with not marrying, but I am not OK with abandoning my dog,” said Karishma. 

While people are lauding her for taking a stand for her loving pet, Karishma’s parents told her that they still think that her decision was wrong and that the guy was an excellent match for her. 

Karishma’s Facebook profile and her posts clearly show her love for dogs. Her profile bio reads, “For my dog, I am the only one. And that’s all that matters.”

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Baltimore Ravens Center, Jeremy Zuttah’s Pit Bull, Ace, Walks with Him Down the Aisle at His Wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life. Almost every moment of the day is captured on camera, either in photos or video.

When you get married, you want the most important people in your life there. Or, the most important animals!

One NFL player refused to get married without his pup! Jeremy Zuttah, a center for the Baltimore Ravens, was not going to get married unless his pit bull, Ace, could join him! I like your style, Jeremy. I’d definitely want my dog to be able to join me as a witness on my big day!

Jeremy and his fiancée Heran planned on getting married at city hall, but when they found out Ace couldn’t join them, they immediately looked for a different venue!

Ace has been with Jeremy Zuttah and his fiancée Heran for about eight years, ever since they adopted him when they were students at Rutgers University.

The couple looked into different venues for their wedding, city hall being one of the first.

But when they said they couldn’t bring Ace, they quickly changed their minds.

To make sure he was a very well-behaved boy, Haren and Jeremy sent Ace for training classes to prep for the big day at Downtown Dog Resort!

Jeremy and Heran are actually big advocates for adoption. They both take credit for Jeremy’s teammate Ronnie Stanley publicly adopting the most “unadoptable” dog at a shelter in Baltimore!

Ace was definitely the center of attention at this wedding! He was the star of the show walking down the aisle with his dad.

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Tennessee Bride and Groom Lets Dog Film Wedding Video

Most couples spend a fortune on wedding photographers, but one Tennessee bride and groom went a different route.

Addie and Marshall Burnett strapped a GoPro camera to their beloved Siberian Husky, Ryder, and let her capture their special day - and the results were doggone good!

A two-minute YouTube video of Ryder's footage has been viewed nearly 3.5 million times since it was posted earlier this month.

"On November 2nd, 2014, Addie and I got married on the top of Roan Mountain, TN, in 2 feet of snowy wonder," Marshall wrote in the description for the video. "It was cold and magical. Our dog, Ryder, insisted on filming the wedding video, so we let her do her thing. She took a while to edit the footage, but we think she did a great job."

On "Fox and Friends Weekend," Addie explained that they love Ryder like a child, so they knew that she was going to be a part of their special day.

Marshall said that they decided using Ryder as their photographer would be a fun way to include her. They didn't have any expectations for how the video would turn out or how incredibly popular it would prove to be.

"It's been really touching to see people's comments on the video ," Addie said. "A lot of people have been emotional and said it's brought tears to their eyes. So it's really cool just across the board to see different people's perspective and take from the video."

Watch the "Fox and Friends Weekend" interview  and see Ryder's handiwork below:

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Aggressive Bull Interrupts Wedding Photos

Brian and Rebecca Pepper were taking their wedding photos in a paddock in Tamworth, Australia when a bull approached the loving couple.

At first, everything was fine, but when the bull got aggressive, so did the groom. Luckily, their photographer Rachel Deane snapped some very memorable pictures of the unusual animal disturbance.

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Dogs Get $5,000 Wedding with All the Amenities

In this canine love story, ring around the collar was the intended effect.

Scruffy Rubin and Snickers Carter had a wedding many couples dream of, featuring 100 guests, a wedding cake, open bar, receptionist and even security. But while the newlyweds are reportedly happy together, that are not actually human.

The Desert Sun reports that actual humans Ernie Rubin and Ann Carter got together to throw Scruffy and Snickers a $5,000 wedding at the Palm Desert Resort Country Club in Palm Desert, California, on Sunday.

"I'm not losing a son, I'm gaining a daughter-in-law," Carter told the paper. The ceremony was officiated by "priest" Harry Farber, who wore a black collar featuring novelty dog bones.

As the two dogs, dressed in custom couture dress and doggie tuxedo walked down a faux grass carpet aisle , they were accompanied by a ring bearer, flower boy, groomsman and usher. However, it's worth noting that the groomsman was a Pug named Max.

A live band serenaded them with a rendition of "You Light Up My Life."
And while all of that sounds pretty over-the-top, Rubin and Carter turned the canine ceremony into a good cause by asking guests to donate to the Orphan Pet Oasis Humane Society of the Desert  in North Palm Springs.

"In planning this event Ernie and Ann wanted to make sure that a charity was involved and they felt strongly about what we do at the society," society representative Jennifer Hamilton told the Desert Sun.

"The whole thing just took on a life of its own and kept growing and growing," Rubin said. "But that was OK because the donations we collected for the shelter were just amazing."

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