A soon-to-be bride and groom do not regret devoting their whole wedding cash to veterinarian expenses.

Heather Johnston and Andrew Boccuzzi made the simple decision to dedicate their wedding cash to vet costs since it meant extending the life of their beloved pet dog, Elvis.

“When you spent your entire wedding budget on saving your 15-year-old dog,” Johnston wrote in an onscreen text overlay over a video of the family of three visiting their local veterinary hospital. She said in the caption, “Would give everything I have for this little boy.”

Johnston, owner of Little Paws B&B Dog Daycare & Boarding in Maine, tells PEOPLE that she shared the video on Instagram to make fun of Elvis’ terrible health problem, which entails him periodically passing out and having seizures for unexplained causes.

“I’ve always said Elvis comes first,” she explains. “He has a better life than I do because I owe him my life.” After getting past the first shock of the expense, it was an easy decision. I’m not joking when I say I adore him more than anything else in the world (except maybe my fiancé).

“I’ll go into debt over my dog but not over a wedding,” the woman says.

Back in high school, Johnston acquired the chihuahua mix puppy after her late sister pointed him out at the shelter.

“I was the first person he allowed to hold him, and from that moment on, we were soulmates,” Johnston recalls.

Elvis has never left her side since then.

“I take him pretty much most places I go (dog-friendly), and he has been there with me through my sister’s death, high school graduation, college (he went to college with me), my parents’ divorce, all my first jobs, apartments and homes, all my relationships, starting a business (he’s the logo), and everything that goes along with all the growing pains of your 20s,” Johnston tells me. “He’s been the only constant in my life. Everyone knows us as one; if I come up without him, they’ll question where he is.”

Johnston and Boccuzzi are starting from scratch with wedding planning, but they know one thing: Elvis must “be a part of it.”

The pair has a picture session with Elvis set for later this month, and they hope to plan a modest wedding soon so Elvis can attend.

“We had planned to elope at the end of the summer and have a low-key garden event with intimate relatives, so Elvis could be sure to attend. Then, in a year or two, we’ll plan something bigger when we have the money,” Johnston adds. “We wanted to rent an Airbnb in Italy and have a casual wedding with friends and family.”

She says, “I’m always concerned about saving money, so I felt we needed to postpone the wedding for another year to feel more comfortable, especially since we have many other commitments at the moment.” I will go into debt for my dog, but not for a wedding. I believe the current idea is to do something modest with Elvis and then organize a larger celebration later.

Although the frequent vet appointments were pricey, it was worthwhile to change wedding preparations. Last month, Johnston felt her puppy was “actively dying.” Now, “the king is back.” Elvis is taking medicine and is “pretty much totally back to himself.”

“He’s had lake days, gone to a wedding, goes on small hikes, still gardens with me, and has the crazies,” according to Johnston.