By Sarah-Taissir Benchararif, The Toronto Star, September 3, 2011

Within a week of dating Samantha, Simon was the new owner of a black Labrador named Romeo. Samantha had grown up with a black Lab she loved, so Simon bought the same kind.

And so, with Romeo on leash, Simon Debane, 35, and his Juliet, Samantha Parry, 26, fell in love.

It was only fitting then, that every year, the two dog lovers went to the CNE’s SuperDogs show. This year, it was about more than just puppy love: Simon got on stage to help with a contest and asked Samantha to join him for a dancing segment.

Then he got down on one knee and proposed.

“Samantha Parry, will you marry me?” he asked.

Samantha, both happy and relieved he wasn’t asking her to dance in public, accepted. He slipped a glistening, 32-diamond, white gold ring on her finger.

“My favourite moment was when she said yes,” said Simon, relieved and excited, after the show.

That morning as the Toronto couple was getting ready to go, Simon asked if Samantha was going to wear a dress. He was planning to look sharp by shaving and wearing dark pants.

Incredulous at desire to look nice for a dog show, Samantha said she would be wearing comfortable clothes that could get wet in case of rain. He agreed to do the same.

“He tried to look as nice as I’d let him,” said Samantha.

Simon was nervous about his proposal. Just two weeks ago, when he explained his plan to Samantha’s father, his soon-to-be father-in-law gave him his blessings but told him she would absolutely hate the idea of a public proposal.

As it turned out, she didn’t mind so much.

The happy couple has already set the wedding date: July 21, 2012.