The world has now started choosing pets instead of humans as wedding witnesses. In a unique case in Ecuador, a couple created history by putting their Pekingese puppy ‘Luna’ as a witness, by placing its paw on the marriage certificate.
Marriage customs are also changing with time. Now apart from humans, pets are also becoming witnesses of marriages. One such case has come to light from Ecuador. According to reports, a couple witnessed their Pekingese puppy ‘Luna’ put its paw on the marriage certificate. Diana Tupiza, 38, and Andres Alcinga, 31, joined Luna as witnesses in the civil wedding. Luna not only attended the ceremony but also put her paw print on the document.
After the wedding ceremony, Diana Tupiza, while talking to news agency AFP, said that Luna was present here, it was really a wonderful experience. Meanwhile, her husband Andres Alcinga, who is a programmer, said that Luna was dressed in a pink tulle gown. He said that animals may not talk to us or give advice, but they give us all their love.
What did the bride’s mother say?
The bride’s mother, Luz Lima, initially did not like the idea, but later made Luna’s dress herself. Lima said that these are modern times. At the same time, Tupija told that he has three dogs and a cat. He said it would have been better if everyone was here, but Luna was there on behalf of them all.
Space for claw marks on marriage certificate
Oton Rivadeneira, director of the Civil Registry of Ecuador, supported this policy, saying that we are adapting ourselves to current and modern family structures. The marriage document has been called a ‘Symbolic Marriage Certificate’, in which a special space has been kept for the paw print of the pet. Although the claw mark is not legally binding, it has great emotional significance.
More than 50 couples got married in the presence of dogs and cats
According to the country’s latest census, about 7.6 million of Ecuador’s population of 19 million own dogs or cats. This number is almost double the number of children under 12 years of age. Let us tell you that the Ecuadorian government has recently approved ‘pet friendly’ weddings, after which the trend of using pets as witnesses is increasing rapidly. Since the month of May, more than 50 couples have got married in the presence of their dogs and cats.