`Diamonds in the Ruff’ Joins 66 Dog Couples in `Mutt-rimony'

Sixty-six dog couples came together in light-hearted matrimony on Sunday, Oct. 2nd at Northwestern Medicine Field as part of a bid to set a new Guinness World Records title for the Largest Dog Wedding Ceremony.

Although the gathering, dubbed “Diamonds in the Ruff,” did not achieve one goal of breaking the 15-year-old record of 178 couples, it raised thousands of dollars and widespread awareness for not-for-profit organizations.

“Unique attention-grabbing events raise awareness for important causes, and we are excited to have accomplished that for the organizations we spotlighted in this Guinness World Records attempt,” said event organizer Leslie Allison-Seei. “I am so proud of everyone who has made an impact through `Diamonds in the Ruff.' We would have loved to have broken the record, but it’s definitely better to say `oh well' than `what if?'”

Through efforts of organizers, two service animals have been placed with veterans, noted Allison-Seei. The average cost of providing a fully trained service animal with a veteran who has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is $25,000, according to K9s For Warriors, which was an event beneficiary.

While “Diamonds in the Ruff” is one of the more tongue-in-cheek categories established by Guinness World Records, organizers parlayed the effort for a variety of serious missions. K9s For Warriors is a national group that pairs service dogs with military veterans who struggle with mental health and die by suicide at alarming rates.

Ten other service animal organizations and local pet adoption groups also will receive a portion of the proceeds generated by event registrations.

Determined to end veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors is the nation’s largest provider of trained service dogs to military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma. On a daily basis, nearly 20 veterans take their own lives, and since 2001 there have been four times as many veterans who have died by suicide than the number of U.S. military personnel who died in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The event was the second such effort coordinated by Allison-Seei and her husband, Greg Seei, who own Robust Promotions, a Villa Park, Ill.-based firm with extensive professional promotional-and-marketing expertise. In September 2021, in Villa Park, they spearheaded an event in which 80 canine couples came together in mutt-rimony.

The Kane County Cougars Baseball Foundation, led by Dr. Bob Froehlich, Cougars owner and CEO, partnered for the event.

The record was established in May 2007 in Littleton, Colorado.

London-based and world-renowned magician Martin Rees, a five-time GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title holder, served as emcee for the event and performed tricks at “Diamonds in the Ruff.”

Rees officiated the vows with an “ordained canine minister,” a dog named Reverend Henry Cleotis Farnsworth III.

The lead sponsors of “Diamonds in the Ruff” were Pet Supplies Plus, the nation’s largest pet retail franchise, and The Gold Leash Pet Hotel and Daycare, based in Carol Stream and Naperville, Illinois. In addition to K9s For Warriors, online at https://k9sforwarriors.org/, the participating rescue groups for “Diamonds in the Ruff” were:

Greater Chicago Cage Bird Society, https://www.gccbc.org/

New Start Dog Rescue of Illinois, https://www.newstartdogrescue.org/

Rover Rescue, https://roverrescue.org/

Underdog Railway Rescue, https://business.facebook.com/underdograilway/

Kane County Animal Control, http://www.kanecountypets.com/

V.E.T. Service Dogs NFP, https://vetservicedogsnfp.org/

Paws 4 U 4 Ever, https://www.4paws4u4ever.com/index.html

Border Tails Rescue, https://www.bordertailsrescue.org/

Almost Home Foundation, https://www.almosthomefoundation.org/

Players for Pits, https://www.playersforpits.com/

To learn more, visit www.LargestDogWedding.com

See the Associated Press video compilation of Diamonds in the Ruff.