DHARMAPURI: While it is not an understatement to say that pets will always have a special place in their owners’ lives, Thangavel, a resident of Thumbalahalli, has taken his relationship with his dog to unfathomable depths by letting it pull his daughter’s wedding carriage.
Passersby, who were astonished to see a dog pulling the wedding carriage instead of a horse or even a donkey, initially thought it was a film sequence in the making.
With amused smiles spread over their faces, they looked on as the carriage made its way from Periyar Statue in Tirupattur Road to Kottakovil.
Talking to Express, Thangavel said, “Mani (his pet dog) is like my son. He has been part of my family for over five years. I decided to let him pull the wedding cart for my newlywed daughter as I wanted him to be an integral part of this very special occasion.”
Thangavel, a milk trader, has not only found a place for his dog within his family, but also at work. Whenever he falls sick, he would tie a bag filled with milk packets around his dog’s neck and the latter would deliver them to his customers. Mani also helps his master carry groceries.
“We had raised a dog before, which passed away five years ago due to age. Soon after, Mani came to our house out of the blue and started living with us. We felt like he was a gift from god,” Thangavel said.
He said his family had no objections as they were well aware of the affection he had for his dog.
Referring to those who had pilloried him for his actions, he said, “I don’t care if people poke fun at me. I wanted to show that my pet had a special place in my family and I did so by giving him a role in my daughter’s wedding.”