Mind Your PET!!!

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As we all know that over the years human values have fallen considerably, each year at a rate faster than the preceding year. The reasons for the same are far too many. Yet, in stark contrast, the numbers of pet owners have increased substantially. The reasons for this rise can be attributed to more aware and matured (using this term with lot of apprehension and restrain) society towards well being of animals and birds and off course, the STATUS symbol. Owning a pet for former is a noble gesture, while the latter is very cruel to both, the pet as well as the human beings. Having stayed in upmarket residential locations of the Maximum City (in South Mumbai have stayed at Chowpatty and Churchgate and now in Bandra – the King of Suburbs) I know the number of people who own pets for the latter. A great majority of people who own pets as a status symbol are blindly aping the Bollywood and Sports celebrities and the Very High Networth Individuals (VHNI) who own pets.

Personally I have no issues with people owning pets for whatsoever reason. I don’t own one and neither ever will. But I have an issue which majority of you (irrespective of whether you have a pet or no) will agree including the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). Yes…I am talking about “PET POOP” on the road, pedestrian walkways, etc. etc. Every morning these gangways are a menace to walk on as one has to mind every step taken. One wrong step can literally ruin your day. Not to mention the unbearable stench if you have happen to step on them…YUKKKK!!!  The so called owners claim to have trained their pets for everything including poop training, but they seldom practice their morning rituals at home. WHY? What is BMC doing about it?

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Where is the implementation of its law introduced in 2006 which said the pet owners will be fined if the pet poops in the public domain? And why only blame BMC, isn’t it the responsibility of the owners themselves to make sure that their pets don’t litter in public places? Least they can do is cleanse the place after the pets done with it. I can recall of one uncle (not related) who would carry old newspapers and clean the place after his dog was done with and would dispose of the paper in an efficient and effective manner. Can rest of them follow suit? Please.

Another issue which again most of you will agree is the rising number of incidents of pet (read dogs) attacks on civilians. Keeping in mind the safety and security of children’s, senior citizens and everyone else, it becomes a very scary proposition as the size of some of the breeds of dogs is as big as a tiger. I can recall couple of incidents in the recent past (though there have been umpteen number of them) where a pet dog has charged towards me, barking and running at full throttle. It’s only after attacking them with stones and other objects (whatever came handy) that these canines have retorted. And the reaction of owners / caretakers of pets to the incidents are like as if nothing happened or it is absolutely normal and the birth right of a dog (and theirs by virtue of owning it). They are least bothered about it. On both the occasions I have fired and hurled choicest of abuses (Yes…I did) at the owners / caretakers for the acts of their canines, only to have them staring back at me with their eyeballs protruding, as if I am at fault and have abused a saint and a noble soul. Well, not the one to take their stares lying down, couldn’t help but use some more (unused earlier) words (read abuses) from my vocabulary. Well, what's appalling is the fact that these guys think that if they own / like a pet, then everyone should like pets and this behavior of pets is absolutely cool. Let’s understand, the Sample doesn’t represent the population…certainly not in this case.

Furthermore, the problem is that with pets becoming a status symbol (at least for a majority of the population), there is heightened attention to their accessory. Yes, pet accessory (read Bombay Times and you will know what I am talking about). Each passing day, the pet bands are becoming fancier but their utility value is heading south. The owners don’t have control on the new extendable bands and their pets stray as far as they want. You will have to alter the route; the owner won’t pull the pet back. I can recollect an incident when a caretaker was strolling with his dog near my office but his gaze was stuck somewhere else. While I was getting in my car, the dog almost came up to me, courtesy the extendable band. I had to literally stick myself with the cars door to avoid coming in contact with the dog, while the caretaker was oblivious to this. I had to scream (read abuse) at the owner to draw his attention in frisking the dog away. Surprising yet again, the guy gave me looks as if nothing happened.

What does this behavior of pet owners signify? Is it a feeling of superiority or that of owning the world, whilst only owning a dog? Irrespective of which side you are, I am sure you will agree with the growing pet menace in the society (as if issues of human beings were not enough).

It’s time the owners mind their pets and behave as responsible citizens.

Share your pet peeved story and lets make an attempt to create awareness to curtail the unruly behavior of pet owners.