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Dog Runs Away Only Minutes Before His Parents’ Wedding

Written by: Molly Weinfurter
Molly Weinfurter is a writer for iHeartDogs, and she’s passionate about helping animals in need. She volunteers for Bailing Out Benji and a local dog rescue.Read more
| Published on October 27, 2020

It’s common for brides and grooms to get cold feet before their wedding day. But it’s not only a big commitment for them, but also for their furry friends. A small dog named Rocky was extremely nervous about his parents getting married. He was supposed to be a part of the wedding, but he just didn’t know if he could handle it. So, he ran off only minutes before his parents were supposed to be married. Despite being a special day, the bride and groom were left heartbroken, unable to celebrate their wedding. Instead, they spent their well-deserved honeymoon time searching for Rocky.

Newlyweds and dog
Image: @IStepFunny/Twitter

A Wedding Gone Wrong

Stephanie Woodward and Ryan Chalmers were set to be married at the Artisan Church in Rochester, New York. Woodward’s father had passed away when she was 16, so she chose Rocky to be her escort. Her loving pup seemed excited about the role up until the wedding was about to begin.

Only moments before the ceremony, Rocky got anxious and somehow escaped the groomsman who was watching him. As soon as the bride and groom found out, they paused their wedding to search for the missing dog.

“He’s been our baby for our entire relationship,” said Woodward. “He’s part of our family.”

Couple with dog
Image: @IStepFunny/Twitter

After searching for a while with no luck, the couple knew they had to move forward with their wedding. They rushed through the ceremony only to continue their search immediately after. It wasn’t the wedding of their dreams, but that didn’t matter as long as Rocky was safe.

Waiting for a Miracle

The couple wouldn’t rest until Rocky was found. In fact, they even refused to go home without him. It just didn’t feel right to start their married life without their loyal dog.

Couple reunited with dog
Image: @IStepFunny/Twitter

“We have been sleeping at our church in hopes he comes back to our church,” Woodward said. “We haven’t gone home since we got married, we don’t leave this area. He means that much to us. We don’t want to go home without him. We can’t go home without him.”

They even offered a $500 reward for anyone who found Rocky. They spent several days searching for him, and they worked with Rescued Treasures to set up traps to catch him. Luckily, all their hard work paid off in the end. One of the traps caught Rocky in the middle of the night a few days after their wedding.

Woodward and Chalmers can’t thank everyone enough for their kindness and support. Thankfully, Rocky seems safe and healthy, so the newlyweds are now back home with their furry friend by their side. Hard work always pays off in the end!

Lost dog reunion
Image: @IStepFunny/Twitter

H/T: whec.com
Featured Image: @IStepFunny/Twitter

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