Here’s a romance story to start your weekend.
Claire Johnson and Mark Gaffey from Stoke-on-Trent are an engaged couple with a twist. They met because of their dogs – their guide dogs.
Claire Johnson and Mark Gaffey with their guide dogs, Venice and Rodd. copyright Dave Evitts
Claire was matched in 2011 with Venice and Mark at the same time with Rodd. They met at guide dog training, when both Venice and Rodd found they liked one another and would bring their new handlers together for a chat whilst they explored and snuggled together.
When both owners and dogs returned to Stoke-on-Trent (they discovered they lived near one another, although they had never met before), they stayed in touch, meeting for coffee, lunches and other dates.
On Valentine’s Day 2013, Mark popped the question. The couple will be married in March 2014 with their dogs as ring bearers.
Claire and Rodd tell the story of how they met in this YouTube video:
DoggyMom.com 