January 24, 2026
From 6:00 - 10:00 PM | M&T Bank Exchange at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center
Join BARCS for the 5th Annual Dog Wedding Gala, a tail-wagging twist on the traditional black-tie event. It’s a real wedding — cake, vows, dancing, and all — except our bride and groom have four paws! Every ticket and sponsorship directly supports the thousands of homeless, injured, and abused animals who come through BARCS’ doors each year. This isn’t just a night to celebrate love — it’s a lifesaving fundraiser for Baltimore’s animals in need.
Meet the Bride & Groom
Rooney
Every great love story starts with a moment—and for Rooney, it was the day she looked up from her kennel with the saddest, sweetest eyes and met “The Laurens.” Once found emaciated and neglected, Rooney was brought to BARCS by Baltimore City Animal Control. She was shy and uncertain, but when she army-crawled toward her future mom for a kiss during their first meeting, fate was sealed. Three days later, she went home, and the rest is tail-wagging history. Since that day, Rooney has become the heart of her family—and the glue that holds her little pack together. She’s patient with her brothers, Ducky and Dewey, gentle with foster puppies, and devoted to her humans in a way that can only be described as pure magic. Rooney is equal parts grace and goofiness—her sideways tongue and clumsy kisses have made her a celebrity at every event she attends. She’s a cuddle connoisseur, a professional heart-mender, and a firm believer that love (and snacks) can fix just about anything. Rooney can’t wait to walk down the aisle and remind everyone that true love really does exist—it’s just a little drooly sometimes.
Rooney’s devoted moms are Lauren Sibel and Lauren George.
Wendell
Wendell’s story is one of quiet resilience. In the summer of 2023, he was rescued by BARCS and Baltimore City Animal Control from an uninhabitable basement, where more than 80 dogs were found stacked in wire-bottom crates in heartbreaking conditions. In the months that followed, Wendell transformed—body and spirit—through patient care, safety, and love. Today, this five-year-old Biewer Terrier is gentle, funny, and endlessly endearing. He’s known for his soft eyes, his joyful energy, and his slightly mischievous streak—most famously, a phase where he liked to collect small treasures and stash them under guest room pillows. Wendell learned what it means to be a dog from his big brother, Stanley, and now spends his days doing what he does best: spreading happiness. He’s living proof that the past doesn’t define you—and that love, once found, can change everything.
Wendell’s proud parents are Cyndi and Erik Kuhn.
Our Story
Like all great Baltimore love stories, this one began at a Ravens tailgate—because nothing brings people (and pups) together like purple jerseys, Natty Boh, and the faint smell of Old Bay in the morning. Wendell, all six pounds of determination, came for the snacks. Rooney, ever the confident beauty, was working the crowd like she owned Lot H. He strutted over—chest puffed, fur blowing in the grill fan’s breeze—and promptly tripped over a cornhole board, landing in her shadow. The world went quiet… except for the guy blasting Seven Nation Army on loop. Electric. By halftime, Wendell had stolen her heart—and half her hot dog. When it came time for engagement photos, there was only one place to go: M&T Bank Stadium. With a little help from our friends at the Ravens, the lovebirds got the VIP treatment—two Baltimore dogs, back on the turf where it all began.
