You're invited: A paw-fect couple to wed this weekend in Lakeville. Here's the details.

LAKEVILLE — During the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals adopted dogs in the hopes of making stay-at-home orders not so boring and lonely. As those orders have been long lifted, many of those same individuals want their dogs to be more social. But it’s not just the dogs that could benefit from more socialization.

In the hopes of bringing the community together for a good cause, five women are putting on a doggy wedding for Freckles, a 10-year-old Shih Tzu, owned by Paula Houle, and Benji, a 7-year-old Chihuahua Terrier mix, owned by Nancy Richmond.

Gail Trinque, Linda Ewell, Joann Bowes, along with Houle and Richmond, will host the event for the paw-fect couple this weekend, Oct. 1, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Ted Williams Camp, located at 28 Precinct St. in Lakeville, and all are invited.

The idea of a doggy wedding

It all started when Houle adopted Freckles from the Lakeville Animal Shelter in Dec. of 2021. A few months later, in April of 2022, Richmond adopted Benji from East Coast Canine Rescue.

“I decided to get a dog because I had become a couch potato because of COVID,” said Richmond.  When the two women, who were both on the board of the Lakeville Council on Aging, found out they both had dogs, they decided to get together. “We both needed to socialize our dogs, so we started taking them for walks together,” said Richmond.

During Christmas time, the two women got together to make Christmas wreaths for the Friends of the Lakeville Council on Aging. Benji and Freckles tagged along, and their relationship blossomed into a full-blown pup affair.

“We always joked about them getting married. Pretty soon it was clear that it was puppy love,” said Richmond.

When the women started soliciting sponsors for a charity event to benefit the Lakeville Council on Aging and the Lakeville Animal Shelter, one of their friends suggested they make the focus a doggy wedding.

“Instead of the normal responses for a run-of-the-mill event, sponsor’s faces lit up and they were so excited to hear about the wedding,” said Richmond.  

While the focus of the event was fundraising, they also hoped it would bring the community and animal lovers together for a day of fun.

The pup nuptials

The wedding and “bow-vows” as Richmond calls it, will take place at 11:30 a.m. Mary Gauthier, who handmade Freckles' veil, will be the officiant of the wedding. Both bride and groom will be dressed up.

Crafts and more

A variety of 20 vendors will be on-site, selling things like local honey, homemade jewelry, crafts, and artwork. There will be a children’s table with activities, an agility course for dogs, and a few informational tables set up for organizations like the MSPCA.

At 11 a.m., there will be a dog training demonstration with Erin Cornelius of Astro K-9 Training in Middleboro, showing dog owners how to do basic exercises and commands, followed by a training Q&A with audience members.

A pet blessing

The wedding will be followed by a pet blessing, where a clergy person lays a hand on each animal to give them a blessing in honor of St. Francis, who is celebrated by the Catholic church every Oct. 4. 

Pet parade and costume contest

At 12:30 p.m., there will be a costume contest and parade, with four categories: best in show, best human/pet duo, most original, and cutest. Best in show will win a trophy and a $50 gift certificate to Pet Food Shoppe in Lakeville. The other three winners will receive trophies and a $25 gift certificate to the same store.

Who is this benefitting from this event?

All proceeds will go to benefit the Lakeville Council on Aging and the Lakeville Animal Shelter. But it’s also meant to benefit the entire community.

“We hear so much about the negative things happening in the world. We want to see people seeing joy and happiness and something light-hearted,” said Richmond. “And who doesn’t feel happy around dogs?”

What should dog owners know in advance?

To attend, all dogs must be licensed, have their rabies vaccines, and be on leash. Water and free treats will be available all day. Dog owners should bring their own doggy-bags, but there will be some on hand in case people run out.

Admission is free to the event.