Arson Dog, Ring-Bearer For Michigan Couple, Steals The Show

ANN ARBOR, MI — At weddings, tradition holds that all eyes are on the bride. Not to take anything away from Madeleine Erba, but she was upstaged by the ring bearer Saturday when she and Alexander Heritier exchanged wedding vows in Ann Arbor. The couple chose Daisy, a 6-year-old Labrador they trained as an arson-detection dog, to fetch the rings down the aisle.

Daisy got some time off from her job and flew back home to Michigan with her handler and partner, Westchester, New York, County police detective John Peters. For lawyer Heritier and Erba, a recent Michigan State University veterinary school graduate, there was never a question but that they would have a canine ringbearer.

For a year, Daisy was their constant companion. Erba decided to train the puppy in 2011 through the Paws with a Cause non-profit group, which provides service animals to people with disabilities, and Heritier was happy to join the effort. But Daisy’s true calling was as an arson-detection dog, so she went to work with Peters in New York in 2012.

“Daisy was a huge part of Al and my relationship,” Erba told "This Dog’s Life.” I received Daisy three months into dating Al. He never questioned once why I wanted to volunteer to raise her, and was instrumental in training her as well.”

Daisy accompanied the couple on dates to the movies or out to dinner and went to class with Erba, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Daisy prepared for the big day as any human member of a wedding party would, according to her Facebook page. She got a fresh shampoo and had her nails done.

Daisy “pranced down the aisle with Detective Peters, in full uniform, at her side,” Erba told This Dog’s Life. There was a slight hitch, though. The best man, Blair, couldn’t get the bag holding couple’s rings off Daisy’s collar.

“The best man did have a little trouble getting the rings off Daisy, and after a few attempts of struggling with the bag, she pulled Blair off balance,” Erba told This Dog’s Lie. “However, she immediately licked his face in an attempt to apologize.”

Daisy seemed to enjoy seeing her foster parents again, especially on such a happy occasion. She licked Erba’s face at the rehearsal and wagged her tail furiously when she saw friends of the couple whom she knew from her life as a civilian.

“It was surreal to have Daisy there. Al and I love her so much. She was the first animal we raised together and so it was very special to have her there,” Erba told lohud.com. “She represents a lot about our relationship and made us remember the very beginning.”

After the ceremony, the newlyweds were off to Hawaii for their honeymoon. Daisy didn’t go and instead went back to New York with Peters. They’ll stay in touch with Peters and his family and follow Daisy’s accomplishments on Facebook.

“We have visited the Peters in the past and hope to do so again," Erba told lohub.com. "We follow Daisy on Facebook and talk with Detective Peters about how she is doing. We are so proud of her accomplishments and can't wait to see what she accomplishes in the future. We love her very much.”

Photo via the Westchester County, New York, Police Department’s Daisy The Arson Detection Dog Facebook page