Hounded into a wedding

Byline: Intro: A 33-year-old Indian has married a female dog to atone for his "sin" of killing two canines 15 years ago. Body: P. Selvakumar married the dog, Selvi, at a wedding ceremony held in a temple in the eastern Sivaganga district on Sunday, the Hindustan Times said. Witnesses said a village astrologer had suggested it would help cure various physical impairments that beset him after he killed two dogs 15 years ago. "After that my legs and hands got paralysed and I lost hearing in one ear. Only recently, after treatment, I've managed to become mobile and that, too, with a crutch," he said. The stray was given a bath and draped in a sari. They then marched in a procession to a temple. The bridegroom and his relatives had a sumptuous meal; the dog got a bun. Such marriages are not uncommon in India, mainly in remote areas, and are done to ward off "evil spells" and "bad omens." They are free to marry again and do not need to divorce the animals.