“I simply want to make the most of our time together and involve her in every moment possible,” bride-to-be Katie Phillips says.
A dying dog joined her owner on a touching trip to select a wedding dress.
When Katie Phillips went to buy a wedding dress on July 6 atWhite on Daniel IslandIn Charleston, South Carolina, she brought her most important guest — her 6-year-old yellow Labrador retriever named Koa.
She has been by my side through everything, so it just felt natural to have her there for something as meaningful as selecting a wedding dress,” Phillips says. “She’s my best friend, my girl, and my steady presence.
Suddenly in February, Koa was found to have oral melanoma. Following consultations with three specialists, the dog received a vaccine to stop the cancer from spreading and had jawbone surgery to remove the “large, rapidly growing tumor in her mouth.” Fortunately, Koa “recovered in a manner only Koa could” and celebrated with a tiny dog cake that said “Cancer Free.”
From March until June, Phillips and her fiancé, Nick Pizzo, finally “felt like they could breathe again.” However, two weeks after their engagement, veterinarians delivered the devastating news that Koa’s cancer had spread to her lungs, leaving her with a life expectancy of three months.
It was heartbreaking,” Phillips remarks. “That instant altered everything.
Although Phillips and Pizzo are making every effort to support Koa, who is behaving as usual with “no symptoms,” they aren’t assuming any time with her is guaranteed. Faced with few treatment choices and an unclear future, Phillips has been “treasuring every single moment” with Koa. She quickly decided to take her to her first bridal appointment after seeing that the store permitted “furry friends.”
The concept of involving her in something happy—something I will always cherish—seemed very significant,” she says. “I simply want to spend as much time with her as possible and involve her in every moment I can.
The day turned into one of Phillips’ most cherished recollections. And according to Koa’s actions, it is also one of her favorites.
It was truly a unique day — one of those moments I’ll always cherish,” Phillips says. “I hadn’t anticipated having such an experience while looking for a wedding dress, but having Koa with me made it unforgettable.
From the moment they entered, Koa was “very calm and joyful.”
Her tail was constantly wagging, and she stayed by my side all the time — in and out of the dressing room, as if she understood she had a task to accomplish,” Phillips recalls. “She sat right at my feet while I tried on dresses, and each time I glanced down, there she was, smiling and observing me. It seemed like she fully grasped what was going on. She carried a sense of pride and calm throughout the day — as if she was quietly involved in the celebration.
Koa has been with Phillips since she was eight weeks old. In 2019, Phillips adopted the puppy in Georgia. From that point on, Koa has been a constant presence in Phillips’ life and has developed a close bond with Pizzo’s 5-year-old dog, a mix between a boxer and an English pointer named Evie, almost like sisters.
She’s experienced every part of my life, and now she’s also a part of this new chapter,” Phillips says. “She absolutely loves Nick, and he’s an amazing dog dad to her. They have their own special connection, and it means a lot to me to see how much they care for each other. I believe she truly understands what this new phase signifies for all of us.
Even though Phillips didn’t locate her ideal dress on that day, “it didn’t make a difference.”
Having her there made the day truly significant,” she says. “It was one of those instances where you pause and reflect, ‘I’m going to cherish this memory forever.’
She says, “Having her by my side during that initial visit meant more than I can truly express. It wasn’t just about trying on gowns. It was about creating a memory with her. It’s been challenging to fully embrace wedding planning while dealing with the burden of her diagnosis. There are moments when it feels like a dark cloud looming over everything. But that day with her helped me shift my perspective. Rather than moving forward with sorrow and loss, I’ve been striving to focus on cherishing every moment.”
A few days later, Phillips discovered her wedding dress while shopping with her mother and best friend at a different store in Charleston.
It remained enjoyable and thrilling, yet it lacked the same emotional impact as the initial meeting with Koa.
She wasn’t there when I said yes to the dress, but I intend to ask the boutique if she can join me for my fitting once the actual gown arrives,” Phillips mentions. “I need to see her reaction and take a photo with her while I’m wearing it. That moment will be incredibly significant to me.”
In June, Koa and Evie were there when their owners got engaged at sunrise on the Isle of Palms. As Pizzo proposed on the beach, Koa couldn’t stop showing her excitement.
When I leaned in to kiss [Pizzo], Koa actually jumped in for a big, wet three-way kiss,” Phillips recalls. “It was a typical Koa moment. Nick had saliva all over his face, and we couldn’t stop laughing. She stayed with us the rest of the day. In every picture, Koa is in the background — smiling, wagging her tail, taking it all in. It really felt like she knew something special had just occurred.
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Phillips and Pizzo plan to get married in Barbados in April 2026, with a civil ceremony held in Charleston first to ensure Koa can participate “if she’s still battling and feeling well.”
I simply want her to understand how deeply she is loved,” Phillips states. “I want her to feel unique and part of everything—not just the major life events, but also the quiet, everyday moments. This entire journey has shown me how much we often take for granted. I no longer miss the small things. The snuggles on the couch. The daily strolls. The way she smiles and wags her tail when I come through the door. These are the moments I’m cherishing.
