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Date: 10/24/2018
AGAWAM – Sophie Vanilla Cookie and Georgi Monkey Bonkey take the term “puppy love” to a new level. On Oct. 20, the Golden Retriever and Boxer were married at Agawam DogWorks during their Dogtober Fest Halloween Party.
Noah Lis, a competitor on the television program “the Voice,” performed his own renditions of Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love” and the wedding march as the pups walked down the aisle. Sophie, dressed in a witch costume complete with a veil and train, rode down the aisle in a decorated wagon. Georgi soon followed, wearing a tuxedo collar and cuffs.
The four-legged friends met at the altar where they exchanged rings and sat patiently, waiting to bark “I do.”
As part of the wedding party, children dressed in costumes including a tiger and a giraffe stood to the side surrounded by a gate and represented Sophie and Georgi’s support for wildlife. Laughter erupted as the children pretended to escape and run up and down the aisle.
The ceremony was a part of the annual Halloween party hosted by Agawam DogWorks. Owner Sue Lamoureux exclaimed, “We love dogs here!” and the dedication to the event that was shown proved it.
The wedding was held for a good cause. All proceeds raised at the event were donated to Thomas J O’Connor Adoption Center and In Honey’s Memory Adult Cat Shelter.
Sophie is a popular dog in Agawam. She is a trained therapy dog with Bright Spot Therapy Dogs and makes frequent visits to hospitals and nursing homes. Residents of the nursing homes Sophie visits attended the wedding, cheering her on during her big day. As Lamoureux explained, “She goes to cheer people up, just to bring good cheer and make people happy.”
Georgi is owned by Dina Cochran, the Head Daycare Manager of Agawam DogWorks. He is in the store frequently, modeling and demonstrating new products. He met Sophie during her visits as a customer. Lamoureux thought it would be a great idea to host a wedding for them. “I was thinking about fixing Sophie up and we decided to hold a wedding. We knew we would love to hold a wedding at DogWorks.”
The wedding was the kick-off to the annual Halloween party, which included a dance party and a range of foods and desserts. Pets and their owners came dressed in costume hoping to win one of six costume contest trophies. Prizes were awarded for Funniest, Scariest, Cutest, Most Creative, Best Overall and Owner/Dog Combo.
Hosting the Dogtober Fest Halloween Party and wedding ceremony was important for Lamoureux. “It’s a good fundraising event for the rescues. It helps feed the cats and get them to the vet. It’s for people to come, enjoy themselves and give back to the community. We love Halloween. Dogs and Halloween are a good thing.”
While the wedding was not a typical part of the festivities, Agawam DogWorks hosts a Halloween party each year and plan to continue to do so. “It’s a fun time for all. We love to see kids get involved. It’s an overall family fun event, just to let people know dogs are a great part of the family and to rescue them.”
As far as the wedding, Lamoureux shared, “I?have had a half dozen calls from people who attended who asked me to do it again next year, and I will definitely give it some consideration!”