Dog parents were just days from their dream Italian wedding — but their pup’s innocent mistake nearly left the groom stranded in the US
A dog’s innocent mistake cost its owner a dream wedding. A couple was ready to depart the United States for their planned wedding ceremony in Europe when a tiny problem halted their schedule. Donato Frattaroli, who hails from South Boston, was nose-deep in preparation with his fiancée when their pet dog, Chickie a.k.a Chicken Cutlet, decided to gobble up the only thing that could prevent them from flying out of the country.
The week before their wedding in Italy, the Massachusetts couple paid a visit to the city hall to fill out the intention of marriage forms. Little did they know their plans would soon be foiled by their angel dog. When they returned home, Frattaroli was shocked at the sight of his passport torn apart and several chewed-up pages. Their one-and-a-half-year-old Golden Retriever had decided it was the best time to chew up daddy’s passport—just before the wedding in Italy. Not sure if it was Chickie’s wedding gift for his parents, but the couple jumped into problem-solving mode.
The couple contacted state officials and passport authorities, as the groom had to apply for another passport. The couple relied on reaching out to officials to help them expedite the process so the passport would arrive just in time for the dream wedding. However, that seemed like a far-fetched idea, and the couple could only hope. “I'm just a little stressed,” he told WCVB in Boston. The pet owner had talked to Congressman Stephen Lynch and Senator Ed Markey’s office, who were “super responsive.” They got in touch with the couple to help them get a new passport soon. “Keep my fingers crossed and, hopefully, everything will work itself out."
Their flight to Italy was at the end of the week, while the couple struggled to find a way to make their dream wedding happen. One cannot fight fate, and Frattarolli figured they could only do so much. He said that his fiancée and the wedding guests would travel to Italy without him in case he couldn't get the passport in time. When they returned, he expected to welcome his fiancée and guests back to the U.S. and continue their wedding plans. While it may seem like a highly unlikely event, such incidents often leave dog owners in turmoil, causing stress despite their love for the pet.
Chickie may be the culprit of the expensive mistake, but it is common for dogs to often eat up odd things lying around the house or outdoors. A survey of 2,000 dog owners revealed a bizarre list of items they claimed their dogs had gobbled up. From a box of tampons, TV remotes, spackle on the walls, and one claimed their pet swallowed a Christmas ornament, per the New York Post. 77% of dog owners worry about their dog's health when they eat something strange, and have to stop them from doing so every three days. The Talker Research survey was commissioned by Darwin's Natural Pet Products in September 2024.