Selva Kumar tied a 'mangal sutra' on the animal, named Selvi, at a Ganesh temple in Manamadurai, about 50 km from Madurai on Sunday.

The 10-year-old saree-clad "bride" was brought to the temple in a grand bridal procession. After the function, the bride was feasted with bread.

Kumar, who vowed to protect Selvi all through its life, said he married the animal as per the advice of an astrologer.

"I will take care of it till its death."

According to him, he had clubbed to death a dog-couple when they were mating and hung them on a tree when he was 18-years old.

After that incident, he suffered a stroke, he could not move his left arm and legs and turned deaf, Kumar said.

"I am able to walk only with the help of a stick, he said.

Kumar claimed that the astrologer had told him that he had the "curse of dogs" after having a simple glance on him.