Woman reveals plans to marry her DOG following the death of previous 'husband'... a pet cat (and her boyfriend is all for it)

  • Dominique Lesbirel, 41, reveals plans to marry her rescue dog Travis
  • This follows the death of her former husband of eight years, a cat 
  • She runs Marryyourpet website, wedding owners and their pets
By MARTHA CLIFF FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 14:43 GMT, 21 July 2015 | UPDATED: 23:45 GMT, 21 July 2015
A woman has revealed that she is planning to marry her dog following the death of her former husband, who was a cat.
Dominique Lesbirel, 41, from Holland, married her pet cat Doerack eight years ago but sadly, the animal had to be put down after suffering kidney failure aged 19.
Determined to move on Dominique has revealed she now plans to marry her dog Travis.
Dominique Lesbirel has revealed that she plans to marry her dog after the death of her former husband a cat
Dominique Lesbirel has revealed that she plans to marry her dog after the death of her former husband a cat
She explains that losing her cat was heartbreaking: 'Putting Doerack to sleep was horrible, I've had him since he was three, but I feel lucky to have had 16 lovely years with him.'
Although Dominique is preparing for a new life with Travis she says that it is still a bit early for them to marry. 
'It sounds strange but I wouldn't marry Travis just yet,' she said. 'It's still too soon after the death of Doerack.'
But when she is ready to re-marry Dominique considers Travis the perfect match having already spent plenty of time getting to know each other.  
'I've had Travis for years. He was a stray I rescued when I lived in Greece.
'He would come down to the beach I swam at every day and eat from the bins or scrabble in the sand for old bits of crab.
Dominique married her car Doerack eight years ago but sadly he had to be put down 
Dominique married her car Doerack eight years ago but sadly he had to be put down 
Although Dominique wants to move on from Doerack she says it is still a bit early to marry Travis
Although Dominique wants to move on from Doerack she says it is still a bit early to marry Travis
'I'd leave him food and water so he didn't have to drink from the sea.'
Eventually the pair became closer and their bond grew stronger as Travis became more confident. 
She said: 'At first he would hide in the bushes but eventually he got brave enough to come over to me for cuddles.
'He'd steal my shoes and bag while I was swimming and, with it, he stole my heart.'
When Travis was struck with a life-threatening virus, Dominique decided to take him in full time and the pair have been together ever since.
Despite plans for marital bliss, Travis isn't the only love in Dominique's life. She has a long term partner Peter Knist, 43, but she says he is very supportive.
She explains: 'Peter’s supportive. He’s an animal lover too, so he understands my desire to make a life-long commitment to a pet.' 
Dominique has set up a website Marryyourpet(dot)com so other animal lovers can wed their pets 
Dominique has set up a website Marryyourpet(dot)com so other animal lovers can wed their pets 
Dominique won't allow any divorces on her site because she doesn't want anyone to abandon their pet
Dominique says that her site is extremely popular
Dominique won't allow any divorces on her site because she doesn't want anyone to abandon their pet
The upcoming ceremony will be done through Marryyourpet.com, a website Dominique set up in 2003.
The site boasts several thousand visitors a day and Dominique pronounces several couples a month lawfully wedded pet and owner.
After their applications to marry are approved, each couple is taken to a virtual chapel on screen, where they exchange vows.
 With a human, you can point to a ring to show you're committed to each other but with pets, there's no one moment of joy to mark that bond
The happy couple then click a button to say 'I do' and Dominique, who became ordained online, sends them a certificate.
She said she encourages people to see the ceremony as a normal wedding with all the same planning in advance, inviting friends and throwing lavish parties to celebrate.
'Not all applications get approved,' she said. 'There are rules, as with any marriage.
'I'm happy to conduct same sex marriages, or to let people marry more than one pet. I only marry domestic animals, though. In some parts of the world, you hear of people keeping lions and tigers as pets – I wouldn't marry people to them.
'I also need to be sure they truly love and respect their pet.'
Unlike a human marriage Marry Your Pet's golden rule is that divorce is not an option.
Dominique continues: 'The difference between a church ceremony and my online chapel is that I don't allow divorce. I don't want to let anybody abandon their pet.'
Although most people understand the light-hearted and loveable tone of the site, a small handful have not seen the funny side.
Dominique claims to have received hate mail and even death threats in the past.
She explains: 'I had people emailing me telling me I was cruel.
Dominique has a long term boyfriend called Peter but she says he is very supportive of her marriage plans
Dominique has a long term boyfriend called Peter but she says he is very supportive of her marriage plans
'They said I was basically promoting animal cruelty. Some were horrified and thought I was condoning bestiality, which was awful and certainly not the case.
'I would never condone such terrible acts of cruelty to animals. My site is all about making a commitment to pets to show your dedication to them and promise that you will always look after them.
The bride-to-be was inspired to set up the site after her cat Zeus was tragically run over and killed.
'I felt really depressed and nobody seemed to get it,' she said. 'People just kept saying, "Come on, it's just a cat," but it wasn't to me.
Dominique says that not everyone is understanding of the website and she has received death threats
Dominique says that not everyone is understanding of the website and she has received death threats
'We have such a strong bond with our pets, but if you tell people you'd rather go home to your cat than go out, they look at you like you're insane.'
Dominique explains that she wanted to find a way she could show her commitment to her animals in the same way humans can for each other. 
She added: 'With a human, you can point to a ring to show you're committed to each other but with pets, there's no one moment of joy to mark that bond.
'Pets are loyal and adoring so I wanted to create something to celebrate that.
'We all need that unconditional love, but it can be hard to find with a person, especially when everyone withdraws behind their phone or laptop screens, so why not look to a pet instead?'
As well as joining couples in matrimony Dominique's site also offers advice for marriages in crisis.
'So what if kitty's having an affair with your neighbour or Fido's too busy on eBay to give you quality time,' it reads. 'For better or worse, remember? Clearly it's time to put the spice back into your marriage.'
The section includes recommendations of pet therapists as well as ideas of treats for furry friends should any owners find themselves in the dog house.
Couples also keep in touch with the Marry Your Pet team to update them on married life as they rack up anniversaries.
Dominique says: 'We'd be lost without those happy little faces at our windows, so I'll do anything I can to remind people to treat animals with love, kindness and respect.
'That's why I'm planning to marry Travis. He's given me so much happiness and unconditional love. I just want to celebrate that bond.'