Doug Lilly: Dog owners who don't deal with do-dos need to clean up their act

COMMENT


There is one thing that really gets up my nose. Cleaning up dogs' business before I mow the council berm.

It's not that I don't know what dogs do - I have owned a dog for much of my life. I know their foibles and I do know the facts of life. Indeed, my first dog earned all his keep simply by doing what male dogs like to do.

But having to go around and scoop up others' doggie-dos each week is just too much. I have become so expert at this chore that I can tell the breed of dog that has visited the spot, what they have had for their last meal and their general state of health.

I now know how the American Indian scouts used to function in the wild west.

I must admit I feel quite smug each morning when I walk my dog.

There is a set routine that includes selecting a plastic bag from the kitchen. I prefer a smallish plastic bag (my dog is smallish) like the ones used in vegetable shops.

They seldom have a hole in the bottom like the supermarket ones; it is somewhat distracting to put one's hand into the bag, grab the little pile and then find oneself looking for a tuft of grass to wipe away the contents.

Morning walk time is quite a social experience. Other walkers and I exchange good mornings. There is a real bond with those who retrieve the essentials.

The other day we passed a fellow who was obviously on his morning jog. There was a collarless mutt running in front of him.

As the dog passed me he abruptly went into the squat position, and you know what happened then. As the man approached he called out "I don't know whose he is. He just comes out with me each day." Yeah, right.

This morning I went out to mow the lawns. There were at least five little - and not-so-little - piles that had to be removed. Our city council is right into the eco thing - you know, composting and recycling and such stuff. I think that this is a great idea, but I don't fancy growing my vegetables in another person's dog poos and I really cannot see how the recycling idea would work.

The employment of Foul Inspectors has crossed my mind, but I rather feel their terms of reference would be limited and the revenue that they would create would be insufficient to cover their salary.

I really don't think that there is a solution to my problem.

There will always be dogs and there will always be dog owners, and we all know what a mess the latter have made of our world.

* Doug Lilly is a Herald reader from West Harbour.


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