A Friend Forever

When a wide eyed pup named Daisy walked into her life…little did Maddy Erba know this fur ball of fun would grow up to wear diamonds. That’s right, diamonds. On Maddy’s wedding day.

“Without a doubt, my fiancé Al and I knew Daisy needed to be our ring bearer,” said Erba. “She was the first dog Al and I had together. By caring for Daisy, we learned a lot about ourselves. She holds a special spot in our hearts."

But Daisy isn’t your ordinary pooch. Today, she fights crime in New York as a State Farm Arson Dog.

"Her ability to investigate and identify possible causes of fire is critical,” said her partner, Detective John Peters. “For example, Daisy discovered accelerant at a scene initially ruled an accidental death. The case became a homicide.”

So how did this loveable Labrador become a crime fighting K-9 and a ring bearer on Erba’s big day?

The journey began in 2011.

“When I was a college sophomore, I started volunteering with the organization Paws With A Cause,” said Erba. It trains dogs to help people with special needs.” An animal science major at Michigan State University, Erba says no one questioned her decision to care for a puppy. Or even bring it with her to class. But her biggest support system?

Erba’s then-boyfriend Al Heritier. "He was really cool with it. We raised her as a team," Erba smiled. That responsibility brought us closer together." As Daisy grew, her path to becoming    a disability assistance dog took a new turn.

"She displayed a different set of personality traits," said Erba. "Those qualities included her energy and innate sense of curiosity - which made her well suited to be a State Farm Arson Dog instead."

A New Beginning

Daisy and Maddy parted ways in 2012...but their relationship did not end there. “Al and I keep touch with Detective Peters and Daisy,” she said. “In fact, when we were vacationing in New York, we got together with them. It was a great experience.”

While raising Daisy, Maddy also created a Facebook page to chronicle their adventures. After Daisy joined forces with Detective Peters, he chose to keep it going. Titled, Daisy the Arson Detection Dog, the page shares fun and informative updates about their investigative work.

So, when Maddy and Al chose to wed on May 27, 2017 – they knew Daisy needed to be part of their big day. As an arson dog who serves and protects her city…it was only fitting she should serve and protect their rings. (Click here to watch Daisy walk down the aisle - People.com).

“She was there at the start of our relationship. Having her in our wedding signified the next chapter,” said Erba. “It shows how far Al and I have come and the bright future that lies ahead…not just for us, but for Daisy too.”