She turned down marriage because he didn't want her dog

Love me, love my dog. Photo / AP

Would you put your pet before a potential husband or wife?

A woman in India has done just that as she turned down an arranged marriage because the suitor didn't want her dog to come, too.

Karishma Walia who works in Gurgaon, was in talks with the "eligible bachelor" from New Delhi when they hit an impasse over her beloved pet, Lucy.

"I don't want a dog to come in between my love life and not share the same bed...that's for sure," he said, according to a WhatsApp conversation that was posted on Twitter. "And my mum doesn't like dogs in general."

After she explained that's why "it won't work out", he evidently thought she was barking mad.

"Are you serious? My god," he said. "Are you sure about your decision. It may be a temporary phase in life when you like dogs. We are talking of your life here."

She insisted she could not "abandon my dog for anyone", to which he replied: "I am sorry to say this. But please marry the dog in that case."

"My mum thought he's an excellent match because he's good-looking and well-off," Walia told BuzzFeed.

"There was a lot of family pressure, and they still think I did the wrong thing by raising the concern about my dog."

He continued to try to change her mind but she stood her ground.

"He would say things like 'family should be a priority and not career'," Walia said.

"I gave up when he commented about my dog. I don't know why my family still thinks he's an eligible bachelor."

It is by no means the first time a pet has been a thorn in a relationship.

Karishma Walia. Photo / Facebook

In an advert posted in the US on the classifieds website Craigslist last year, a man who was given an "it's me or the dog" ultimatum by his girlfriend offered his partner "free to any willing home".

On the flip side, there have been studies that suggest owning a dog can make for a stable relationship.

According to a recent survey by Illicit Encounters, the dating site for married people, if you own a dog, you're less likely to cheat on a partner than if you own a cat.