dog marriage

[Guest guest]

I fully endorse this letter. It is unacceptable the fact that people

make fun of animals in such a way. They certainly deserve more dignity

than many of our kind!

 

vze23mrx wrote:

 

> I am horrified by such a display of indignity directed toward animals.

> It makes a mockery of marriage, and it makes a mockery of dogs.

>

> To top it off, the intent to breed these dogs is unacceptable. There

> are too many dogs already, dying needlessly in very cruel

> circumstances. Breeding additional dogs when there exists a surplus

> number is insensitive, to say the least. It is also cruel and

> uncaring. No, we don't need additional Irish Setters. All dogs are

> wonderful, whether pedigreed or not. Let's adopt and love and care for

> the ones already born. I find no joy or amusement in this farce that

> was perpetrated. It should be called what it was - shameful.

>

> Lu Haner

>

> -------------- Original message --------------

> " " <journalistandanimals

> <journalistandanimals%40gmail.com> >

>

> Hindustan Times, 12 December, 2006, Kolkata, Plus Bengal, Page 4

>

> Canine couple tie knot amid wags, howls and chicken broth

>

> Amitava Banerjee, Darjeeling, December 11

>

> It was the grandest wedding 'ruff-ception' Darjeeling had ever

> witnessed. A

> spread of the choicest delicacies- Pedigree Dog food, dog biscuit, dog

> chew

> and chicken broth- waited on the table as 2-year-old Irish and half-year

> senior Murphy were bonded in 'howly' matrimony on Sunday in the

> presence of

> the who's who of the twon's canine community.

>

> It had started on a cold, wintry morning a year ago at the dog park, where

> Irish first met Murphy. From the first sniff, it was pure puppy love,

> which

> finally ended in Sunday's grand wedlock.

>

> The Darjeeling Inititiative(DI) and Help Ensure Animal Life(HEAL), an NGO

> based in the Hill town, played wedding planner for the Irish setter couple

> once they decided to tie the knot. About 100 invitations were sent out to

> canine lovers and eminent people of the town,the Mall was selected as the

> marriage venue and Michael, originally from the US but currently a

> volunteer

> at the Darjeeling Carnival, was asked to officiate the ceremony.

>

> On Sunday, Murphy- almost handsome in an elegant black coat- took the

> solemn

> vow(read out by Michael on his request) to sniff and dig with Irish, and

> Irish only, to share his squeaky toys and rawhides with her and to

> take long

> walks together in the park. He also promised to be faithful to her and let

> her have the last nibble at the meal, no matter how tasty it was. He vowed

> to bark at cats, squirrels and protect her from the mailman. " And so,

> throughout our lives, no matter, what may lie ahead of us or buried in the

> yard neneath our paws, I pledge to you my life as loving and faithful

> spouse, " he assured Irish.

>

> Dressed in a pink gown, Irish demurely nodded her consent when Michael

> asked

> her whether she accepted Murphy as her man, to sniff and cuddle until

> death

> did them apart. Then with the exchange of dog collars, the two were

> declared

> husband and wife amidst wags and growls from their furry friends.

>

> As Irish and Murphy left for Kalimpong on Monday to start a new life, the

> bride's relatives bade her tearful goodbye. She parted with a sad look as

> the 'just married' sign on their vehicle glowed under the afternoon sun.

>

> After the couple left to live happily ever after; Michael said the wedding

> had been an experience of a lifetime for everyone who was present. A dog

> show prior to the ceremony had ensured canine guests in large numbers, he

> added.

>

> Sandeep Lakhotia, secretary of HELP, said: " Irish and Murphy are the only

> two Irish Setters in entire North bengal. Their marriage will bring in

> anew

> generation of Irish setters in the region. "

>

> Father of the bride Vikram Rai was overwhelmed. " I am happy that Irish has

> found a new home and a good family, but tat the same time I feel a part of

> me is lost forever, " he said. On the other hand, Dr Sanjay Gurung, a vet

> and the owner of Murphy, said he was overjoyed to have a new member in the

> family. " I am really happy to have Irish with us. I hope she is able to

> adjust in Kalimpong, " he said.

> On why it was a Christian wedding despite the fact that both the bride

> and

> the groom's families were Hindus, Gurung said : " Murphy is of Irish

> breed,

> so the ceremony had to be Western. " Sanjay also expressed his

> happiness over

> his new relation with Vikram. " We had been friends for years, but now we

> have become relatives, " he chuckled.

>

>