Stories and photos of their pets in their chats and a shared love for animals in one another’s hearts was what sealed the bond of this Bhopal couple. Nine months into the marriage, it was the inconsistency among their pets that made them pursue a divorce.
The husband, an IT employee working from their home, and wife, from Uttar Pradesh and employed in Bhopal, had fallen in love with each other due to their spirit towards animals. Their friendship evolved, and they subsequently married.
Shortly after they moved in together, the wife remarked that her husband’s dog was pestering – and sometimes attacking – her cat. The husband explained that he had made it clear he did not want the wife to bring her pets from her home before they were married. However, the wife insisted on bringing her cats themselves, he alleged.
The man also reported that the cat would “hover” over the fish tank, which created tension in the household. The man was certain he would keep his dog, while the woman certainly would not part with her cat. Therapist family counseling and attempts at reconciliation through family sources were unsuccessful. They filed for divorce.
Family counselor Shail Awasthi said the issue is not just about a dog or a cat, but of increasing isolation among families. “People seek companionship in pets, sometimes placing them above human relationships. When both partners refuse to adjust, marriages like these collapse. It reflects a growing trend of people taking relationships lightly, believing that pets can substitute for human bonds,” he explained.
