Getting married is one of the most important days of your life, and you want to be surrounded by those you love – and for many couples, that includes their pets.
Several couples have included their pets in their big days, even making them the “best men.” But one story brings tears to the eyes: a dog dying from cancer sees his owners down the aisle.
Kelly O’Connell, a veterinarian, was just 19 when she first saw Charlie, a black Lab mix. In the middle of winter, the dog was found abandoned in a shopping cart. Although Kelly wasn’t planning on adopting a dog at the time, she knew it was love at first sight.
“I’m not sure what it was. My response was, “Yeah, this is my dog.”. “I’m taking him home,” she said.
Charlie became Kelly’s best friend, and he changed her life. A very active, playful dog inspired the owner to take up running.
The dog was so important to her that when she met her future husband James Garvin, a veterinarian, one of her biggest concerns was whether he and his kids would get along with Charlie. Fortunately, they did. “Charlie doesn’t get along with everyone. Kelly said he immediately loved them.
She told CNN that he grew to love him just as much as she did. “Charlie symbolized the coming together of the family.”
Charlie started slowing down after 15 years together. Having suffered a seizure, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor after he wasn’t his usual active self.
Meanwhile, the couple was preparing for their wedding. The week before the wedding, he had five seizures,” Kelly told People. “We considered putting him down, but he got better, so we waited.”
When his owners’ big day arrived, Charlie was there, as if he held on just long enough to see it.
Despite being near death from cancer, Charlie found the strength to walk Kelly and James down the aisle for their vows. Kelly’s sister helped him walk back since he was too weak to walk.
“My sister picked him up – all 80 pounds of him – and carried him back down the aisle,” Kelly told Denver Channel.
The moment was emotional for everyone, and Kelly could only think of how proud she was of her beloved companion on her big day.
We ignored everyone. We just fell to our knees and kept saying, “You did it, buddy.”. Congratulations. I’m glad you’re here. Everyone was crying when they heard you were here.”
Their last memory together was the ceremony: Charlie passed away just nine days later. She was heartbroken to lose her best friend, but grateful Charlie made it, and that their wedding photographer Jen Dziuvenis captured the sweet moments.
I remember those memories. During that moment, she said, “I was just thankful for his presence and the years I spent with him.”. She continued, “He always smiles in the pictures.”. There is no denying it. “He smiles.”
She told People, “I will miss Charlie, he was my best friend.”. “But he will never be forgotten.”. He will always be remembered by the wedding photos.
