Doo-doo dilemma
AFINE mess we’re in! Celebrity vet Dr Chris Brown describes it as the “hero” of the suburbs. He even contends it is a civic duty we should wholeheartedly embrace.
Such is his passion he devoted an entire News Limited column to the subject in trademark tongue-incheek style.
To poo! Not a charming topic, particularly if you are browsing the morning edition over breakfast. In this instance though, it had merit.
Before jumping to conclusions, the Bondi Vet was not profiling our politicians and their deplorable behaviour. Rather, he was presenting a Geoffrey Robertson Hypothetical on the pros and cons of dog poo bags and their disposal.
Labelled the great dog-poo debate, Dr Chris asked if it was acceptable for an owner walking man’s best friend (guess that phrase will be cancelled by the angry brigade shortly!) to throw a used bag into a stranger’s wheelie bin.
From an owner’s perspective, says the popular vet, there is the convenience of not having to parade around the streets with a potent parcel in hand. Moreover, it may motivate people to take in their empty bins after collection rather than leaving them out for days.
But from the bin owner’s standpoint, who wants that same nasty parcel atop their neatly wrapped rubbish, recyclables or green waste? Moreover, what if the bag leaks? Who draws the short straw and is handed the antiseptic?
The central issue here is not going away, much like the daily doings in your neighbourhood; in fact, it is multiplying at a great rate.
Dog ownership exploded during Covid-19 and two and three-animal families are not uncommon. At last count, there were 5.5 million dogs in Australia and while regional stats fluctuate, an estimated 27,000 are registered in the City of Geelong and 6000 in Surf Coast Shire, give or take a few thousand.
Around this neck of the woods, there is a constant stream of pooches strutting their stuff, sniffing trees and squatting. The behaviour of these mostly designer dogs with a sprinkling of purebreds and mongrels varies, determined by their training and owners. There is little difference in their toilet habits, however. If they want to go, they go – immediately, anytime, anywhere.
Not so much as a whiff of modesty or embarrassment.
Most owners do the right thing, collect the deposits and continue on their way with their mutt’s motions safely corralled until returning home.
Accordingly, we give thanks to those earth-friendly biodegradable poop bags.
But other owners are not so inclined, surreptitiously discarding bags in gutters, on nature strips and, occasionally, in stranger’s rubbish bins. The latter, one must concede, is far better and more hygienic than others who do not bother at all.
With NIMBY-like mentality, these owners leave their dog’s calling card where it falls. Disgusting. So much so streets abound where walkers, joggers and pram pushers need negotiate a fouled obstacle course.
The lanes in our neighbourhood attract this type and I swear one offender walks an elephant most mornings judging by the pyramids their treasure leaves behind.
The jury is still out on the great debate. But if you are stressed about those anonymous contributions in your bin, Dr Chris has a reasoned solution – just get on with business and let the dogs get on with theirs.