In a heartwarming trend that is garnering worldwide attention, couples from Ecuador are now making sure that their animal members of the family get an opportunity to participate in their civil marriages as well. From May 14th 2026 onwards, the Civil Registry of Ecuador has started providing “bodas pet friendly” (pet friendly marriages) where dogs and cats act as witnesses by putting their paws on the certificate.
One standout example involves Diana Tupiza, a 38-year-old engineer, and Andres Alquinga, a 31-year-old programmer. The couple married in Quito with their Pekingese dog, Luna, dressed in a custom pink tulle gown sewn by Tupiza’s mother, Luz Lima.
“That she is here is really spectacular,”
Tupiza told AFP. Luna left her paw print on the couple’s symbolic certificate alongside the human signatures.
Launched around May 13, 2026, the initiative lets pets attend civil ceremonies nationwide, either in-person at registry offices or virtually in some cases. Animals must wear collars with ID tags (leashes are often optional), and owners handle behavior and hygiene. Pets do not replace the two required human legal witnesses; their role is purely sentimental. Couples receive an “Acta Simbólica de Matrimonio” a special commemorative document featuring the paw print.
“Nuestra misión es garantizar que el servicio público evolucione y se adapte al ritmo de la sociedad,”
said Ottón Rivadeneira, Director General of the Registro Civil, emphasizing modernization and recognition of “multi-species families.”
With a population of about 19 million, Ecuador is home to nearly 7.6 million dogs and cats nearly double the number of children under 12, according to local reports citing census data. More than 50 couples have already signed up since its launch. It shows changes in culture as people tend to consider pets as part of their families.
It is common for pets to attend wedding ceremonies in the USA, where dogs usually play the roles of ring bearers or “flower dogs.” But Ecuador is unique in Latin America by officially considering pets as symbolic witnesses via the state government service. This mirrors growing trends in countries like Argentina and Mexico but goes further with official certificates.
There have been largely positive responses to this idea, noting the emotional connections and broad definitions of families. Some conservative voices find the ceremony too formal, but younger couples like it because it is a celebration of their love in modern times.
All in all, this project reveals once again how pets are an integral part of the modern family. Although the paw prints do not hold any legal power, they stand for unlimited love and have gained popularity well beyond the Ecuadorian borders.
