Dogs Who Fell in Love Over Strolls at Senior Community Get Married in Front of 75 Wedding Guests

Dogs Shelby and Simba raised $400 for Michigan Humane with their wedding

Puppy love can happen at any age!

Dogs Simba and Shelby took their relationship to the next level with a well-attended wedding at their meeting place: Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit's Meer Apartments — an independent living older adult community in West Bloomfield, Mich.

Simba is an 8-year-old Cockapoo belonging to Meer Apartments resident Jean Lutren, and Shelby is a 10-year-old poodle/Shih Tzu/Maltese mix belonging to resident Audrey Demak. The pups met when their owners started taking dog walks together.

The canines quickly formed a bond and started seeking each other's company outside walking hours. Lutren and Demak decided to put together a wedding for the pups to recognize the devotion between the two dogs.

Related: Vote For the 2024 World's Cutest Rescue Dog Contest Winner!

On Aug. 19, Simba, the groom, married Shelby, the bride, in front of an audience of over 75 residents and staff members from the Meer Apartments. The canine couple's numerous supporters also helped bring the afternoon wedding to life.

Jennifer Staniszewski, Meer Apartments' program coordinator, and Marcia Mittelman, a Meer Apartments Administrator, planned the doggy wedding. Mittelman also served as the officiant for the pooches, who had a traditional Jewish ceremony.

Shelby walked down the aisle in a crocheted wedding dress with a tulle skirt and pearls to meet Simba, who donned a tuxedo vest, under the chuppah. The dogs' owners, Lutren and Demak, followed behind Shelby as the bride's flower girls. Before enjoying treats and a custom cake, the dogs exchanged vows written by the Meer Apartments' creative writing class.

Related: Senior Citizens Host Senior Pet Adoption Events to Help Older Animals Find Retirement Homes

The adorable occasion brought joy to the residents of the older adult community and solidified Simba and Shelby as Meer's mascots.

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The dogs' wedding spread happiness to rescue animals like Simba and Shelby. Instead of wedding gifts, the pooch pair requested donations to Michigan Humane. The nuptials raised over $400 for the animal welfare organization.

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