Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 7, 1994 TAG: 9408080025
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By KEN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
They couldn't agree on what made it so special. Maybe it was the dimly lit ambience of the chapel or the soft music of Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens in the air.
Then again, maybe it was the dog in the wedding party.
"She's an amazing dog," said Gretchen Distler, the 24-year-old bride from Blacksburg whose 45-pound mixed doberman, Kemah, served as an honorary bridesmaid. "She's worth memorializing like this, because she is so special and she doesn't have many years left."
Kemah, who was named after the East Texas town where she was born 18 years ago, wore a daisy chain around her thin neck as she walked down the aisle to lead the wedding.
She stood on feeble, arthritic legs near the altar, seemingly complacent about the more than 100 guests who watched her nearly as much as they watched Distler and the groom, Gerard Flad of New Orleans.
Finally, she lay down at the feet of the other bridesmaids, obviously tired from all the attention.
"She's always been very popular with everyone," said Leah Branch, a bridesmaid and longtime friend of Distler's.
Branch said said she wasn't surprised when Distler told her Kemah would would be in the wedding party; to the contrary, Branch and the other bridesmaids were happy to share the altar with their canine counterpart.
"It seems totally natural for her to be in the wedding," Branch said. "She's like a part of Gretchen's family."
Kemah came to live with Distler and her family 16 years ago, nearly an hour before she was scheduled to be put to sleep after spending two torturous years as an abused pound dog.
Kemah never forgot the favor.
When an electric blanket set off a fire in Distler's home late one night eight years ago, Kemah nudged Distler's mother and alerted the family so they could escape and call the fire department in time to save themselves and their home.
She has been a part of every family vacation, has been in the center of almost every family function, and has even been married herself in a backyard ceremony to a neighboring Golden Retriever named Scotchy.
Although Kemah's presence wasn't unusual, it was important.
"Kemah deserves all this," Distler said. "She's probably my favorite living being in the entire world."
Memo: ***CORRECTION***