pet bowl does not assign to pet (multiplayer)

[Pea Kina]

multiplayer save game.
we both had one animal each. at some point they simply disappeared. we had a bowl for each animal. later we both bought a new animal each, but the bowls are not assigned to the animal. the animals no longer leave the house and do not build up hearts despite being stroked.

even tearing off and buying a new bowl does not assign the bowl to the animal. has anyone ever had this problem?

[Emitt "Dank Memes" Cummings]

I have this issue on switch