Something smells funny in the Uptown Bubble

by Fiona Norton

It’s that time of year again, when the sun beats down, the heat swells and the pleasant odour of rain and fresh cut grass is replaced by something….unpleasant. So what is that fetid smell that greets me upon opening my front door? Ah yes, it would be Au du Dog Excrement. Charming.

In Uptown, many people and their respective pets are squeezed into a small area. It behoves everyone to be respectful, circumspect and cooperate in maintaining a pleasant environment for all to enjoy. A large part of that is ensuring your pet does not defecate on every limited patch of green.

Before I continue, I want to state clearly, and thus preempt a hateful response from the dog owning community – I love dogs. In fact, I love dogs so much, that I deny myself the personal companionship of one of these lovely creatures because I do not think living in an apartment with no garden is conducive to its well being, and my busy travel schedule prevents me from giving it the time it needs.

If you are going to keep a dog in an apartment, choose a small one. There’s nothing sadder than seeing a forlorn husky peering over the edge of a miniscule balcony. Accept that a dog needs to be walked, and by walked, I don’t mean standing at the bottom of your front steps (or mine). And please, for the sake of the environment, pick up after your pet!

I really don’t know what goes through the mind of some of these people – maybe not much. In what way is it socially acceptable for you to come and let your dog poop on the small patch of grass immediately in front of my home? How would you like it if I dragged my two irritated cats to the front of your house and let them vomit on your steps? The management of this apartment community has thoughtfully provided a baggie dispenser and a trash can – there is no excuse. It’s sheer laziness and shows a complete lack of regard for your neighbours and the poor maintenance guys who have to pick up this crap.

The most egregious example of total lack of concern for others that I have witnessed is a certain young woman who chooses to take her dog into the pool area for its morning and evening ablutions. For goodness sake, this is where people walk around barefoot! Perhaps that was acceptable behaviour at her parents’ compound, but it certainly isn’t in a communal living environment.

Things are not much better outside the gates of the complex. In order to get to The West Village, I have to cross a narrow strip of grass. This strip is treacherous because lurking within its confines is any number of foul smelling deposits. One sometimes feels that the only way to cross safely is by pole vaulting over!

Please folks, be responsible in your actions and lets all do our bit to keep the Uptown area a clean and sweet smelling environment.

This story was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community.