Obama Daughters Receive Invitation

Here at I Do, Doggone It! Central, we were struck by the impeccable timing of President-elect Barack Obama's victory speech on Tuesday night at Grant Park.

Among other pledges, he assured his daughters, Malia and Sasha, that as a reward for putting up with Dad being on the campaign trail for a signficant chunk of their young lives, they will soon be getting a puppy.

Our public service mission extends now beyond raising funds for the Animal Care League of Oak Park. We can help the Obama girls identify the nation's First Dog, too!

Here are excerpts from a Guinness World Record-attempt news release we issued today:

"The organizers of I Do, Doggone It! would like to extend an invitation to Malia and Sasha Obama: find your puppy at the Animal Care League of Oak Park!

Better yet, so you can make an informed choice, come to the mass dog wedding on Saturday, Nov. 8, and get a close-up view of numerous canine varieties...

“Because the Obama family is staying in Chicago this weekend, it seems only fitting that we extend this invitation,” said Pat Zubak, executive director of Downtown Oak Park. “This would also help the new president display his integrity—following through on his public declarations.”

Zubak stressed that though there are many same-sex couples who have pre-registered for the dog wedding, Downtown Oak Park and the Animal Care League are taking no broader stance on the human being controversy over that issue."

Yogi & Boswell: Friendship Leads to Vows

Behind every dog participating in the upcoming wedding, there is a story.

Today, meet Yogi.

This 130-pounder resides in Oak Park, with his master, Mari Mortenson, and on Saturday they are taking part in I Do, Doggone It!

Yogi is "sort of related" to his betrothed, 120-pound Boswell, since both came from the same breeder, said Libby Ashcraft of Forest Park, who, along with husband Mike, is Boswell's master.

Yogi and Boswell have hung out together a lot the past three years and the dog wedding seemed to be the next logical step in the relationship, explains Libby.

Both are male--meaning this will be a same-gender union--and Yogi will play the bride's role.

"They'll be really related once they get married,” said Libby.

As for Boswell, he hasn't spent as much time with Yogi of late as he has been recovering from leg surgery this summer. Boswell is named after a town in Oklahoma (where Mike is from).

NOTE: If your dog does not have a friend to hook up with for I Do, Doggone It!, don't let that stop you from joining in the fun! There is a speed-dating service for the day of the event, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We anticipate numerous last-minute connections, so your dog will be in good company.

To beat the rush and pre-register for the event, the form is right here.

C'mon: Where's the LGBT Outrage?

Upon further review of the Wednesday Journal, not only did Anthony Shaker (no relation to Anthony Kiedis, gratuitously pictured in this post) take a swipe at I Do, Doggone It!, but columnist John Hubbuch weighed in with his own irreverent thoughts in this week's edition.


Because he actually has a sense of humor, John took a light-hearted tack.

We're still crossing our fingers that Oak Park's gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender population will voice outrage at IDDI. After all, by endorsing same-gender doggie unions, isn't I Do, Doggone It! making light of their homo sapien counterparts' own bid to gain familial status and all the benefits that come with it?

By the way, you need not be a member of the local LGBT community to raise a ruckus.

C'mon, controversy-lovers, where are you?

New `First Couple' Photo Unveiled in WJ

We got some good lovin' in today's Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest.

The paper, proudly noting its role in breaking the IDDI story, provided the update you loyal blog denizens received last week (about Elvis leaving the relationship with Mr. Big and the GWR regulations).

At the same time, WJ reminded folks that this is not just some silly publicity stunt. Well, not entirely, anyway. Remember: the Animal Care League of Oak Park is the beneficiary or, more to the point, the cats and dogs in their care are the ones who gain from this effort.