A Bhopal couple’s marriage, which began with a shared love for animals, culminated in divorce due to conflicts stemming from their pets’ behavior. The husband, employed in the IT sector and working from home, and his wife, who worked in Bhopal, bonded over their mutual affection for animals, leading them to marry. Shortly after they began living together, disputes arose involving the interaction between the husband’s dog and the wife’s cats. The husband indicated that he had preferred that the wife not bring her pets prior to their marriage, but that she had insisted on bringing the cats. The cat’s tendency to hover near the fish tank further increased tensions. Despite efforts at reconciliation, including family counseling, the couple was unable to resolve their issues and ultimately filed for divorce. Shail Awasthi, a family counselor, suggests that the issue represents a larger trend of increasing isolation within families. He added that some people may prioritize pets over human relationships, resulting in marriage failures when compromise is lacking and highlighting a growing view that pets can be substitutes for human relationships.
