American’s service dog is ring bearer, best man in Tarlac wedding

Shadow, his master’s best man and ring bearer (Photo by MARIA ADELAIDA CALAYAG / Inquirer Central Luzon)

TARLAC CITY — Shadow, a 4-year-old black pug of former American serviceman Jeffrey John Snively, served as his master’s ring bearer and best man at a small Baptist wedding held on Sunday, Oct. 28, in Barangay San Rafael in this city.

Snively, 42, wed Tarlac resident Evelyn Taguines, 40, while Shadow — wearing a specially-tailored suit — carried their rings at a hall they rented for the event.

Shadow is Snively’s “battle buddy.” Snively has a heart condition, and the 35-pound dog was trained to monitor his master’s breathing.

Shadow was credited for sparking their romance. Taguines said she first encountered Shadow with Snively’s parents during a Zumba event near their home seven months ago.

“I felt comfortable when I first met Shadow. After a week [Snively’s] parents introduced me to Jeff and we have never been apart. Shadow was our bridge,” she said.

Snively said: “I think he is the first dog to be a ring bearer and best man in the Philippines… What this service dog loves here in the Philippines is the fish. He also loves carrots and apples. He likes fireworks. He was the first dog to enter [a cinema at a local mall] without any diapers. He can hold it in his bladder for eight hours.”

“I needed someone to help me in the recovery [stage of my heart treatment]. My army sergeant approached me and said, ‘Hey Snively, I would like you to train this dog? This will be your battle buddy. Where you go, he goes’,” Snively recalled.

“Whenever I leave my room he will just stay at my door, until I return. He becomes nervous whenever I’m outside, he wants to be with me all the time. When people suffer heart problems, dogs like Shadow know. It’s like he feels what I feel,” he said. /atm

Former US serviceman Jeffrey John Snively walks down the aisle with his “battle buddy” Shadow (Photo by MARIA ADELAIDA CALAYAG / Inquirer Central Luzon)

Evelyn Taguines says she met Jeffrey John Snively through his dog Shadow. (Photo by MARIA ADELAIDA CALAYAG / Inquirer Central Luzon)