Man marries dog

[Kanetsugu Naoe]

Man marries dog, gains global fame

Published Dec 3 2010

Guiso and Honey the labrador at the 'wedding ceremony'​

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A 20-year old man from Toowoomba, Queensland in Australia married his best friend - a five-year-old labrador. The town's Laurel Bank Park hosted the wedding of Joseph Guiso and Honey, a labrador he adopted five years ago.

Thirty of the Guiso's closest friends and family, along with their dogs, were in attendance for the emotional ceremony, held at dusk on Wednesday.
"You’re my best friend and you make every part of my day better," Guiso’s vows read.

He decided to 'tie the knot' with Honey after stumbling upon a wedding in the park during an afternoon walk. "I said that could be us," Guiso said. "She didn’t say anything so I took that as a yes."

Guiso said as a "religious guy", he could no longer take the guilt of living with Honey out of wedlock.

Guiso kissing Honey 'the bride'​

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"It’s not sexual," he assured the onlookers. "It’s just pure love." After The Chronicle broke the news of the unconventional 'wedding', Guiso's story has appeared in media all around the world.

Requests for interviews by A Current Affair, New Idea and Woman's Weekly have left Guiso feeling like top dog. "We're definitely Australia's hottest new couple," Guiso said. "Bec and Lleyton Hewitt, Brad and Angelina - your time is over."

Guiso and Honey have become a global media and internet sensation​

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Guiso's attention has been of both the positive and negative variety, but he's quick to tell detractors that the love he and Honey share is a platonic one. "I didn't set out to offend anyone, this is just about a man and his dog," he said.

"Although I'm wondering if all the attention might make it a bit hard to get a job as a school teacher after I finish at university." Guiso said the first week of marriage has been going well, but like any relationship, it does have its problems.

"I think she's a bit angry about all the publicity; she's been giving me the silent treatment," he said. "Then again, I was hoping the marriage wouldn't keep me on a short leash." Guiso said he plans to donate all the money received during the resulting media storm to the RSPCA and other animal welfare organisations.