Pooh-pooh the poo

In the below described observation, readers will find frequently a word of ancient Teutonic origin now regarded as vulgarism. I make no apology for using it. It is "shit". Surely everyone living here in Mahindra Eminente must have come across the sight of well manicured, pedicured and beautified pedigree mutts proudly roaming around the complex while being held on leash by domestic- help. That proud roam is interrupted when that pet decides to take a leak or feels the bowel pang and pulls the dog-walker to nearest lamppost/ flowering plant or if the urgency demands lowers two hind legs right in the middle of the garden promenade. Having relieved, that pet walks away displaying same proud gait and also the pet-handler.

Now superimpose the whole-dog walking scene to some residential complex or a public place in some European or American country or nearby Singapore. The basic rule of dog-walking is Tommy's handler/owner picks up Tommy's shit. Mahindra Eminente residential complex, where BMW, Lexus, Porsche, Mercedes lock horns in battle for parking space - why should dog-handler find it below his/her dignity to pick up dog-shit? Why should he not, like dog-walkers everywhere else, walk with his pockets packed with plastic bags and paper tissues and wear shoes that, in extremis, are stout enough for kicking shit? Most dogshit is well-formed and firm; with the hand inside a plastic bag it is easy to pick up — then reverse the bag, tie the knot and walk on; and if you are observed, then grin at the observer, for it is as neat a way as any for making friends of neighbours. There is no shame in any of this — it is simply the duty of the responsible citizen. If the denizens of Mahindra-Eminente Complex do not show responsible behaviour then we ourselves are choosing to live in the midst of shit.

We all are well educated, well-travelled across the globe, we all usually make right decisions and steer our individual businesses/ organisations through some of the very complex situations, live in plush homes, drive around in plush cars and feel more blessed. At the same time we completely ignore the fact that animal excreta or for that matter any kind of excreta lying around within our supposedly plush residential complex makes whole ambience look so deplorable. Is it because of our Indian mentality that when we go to foreign land we suddenly become law abiding and carefully dispose off even tiny cigarette butt in proper dustbin, whereas, no sooner we land in our motherland, without giving a second thought do aak-thoo with all the pichkari action mouth can generate and start cursing Indian administrative set up for not getting its act together.

As was said by John F.Kennedy – “Ask not, what your country can do for you. Ask what, you can do for your country". Do we ask this question to ourselves everyday? Today lets ask ourselves the similar question applicable to much smaller domain - the domain of Mahindra Eminente Complex. Lets ask ourselves what can be our contribution towards improving overall aesthetic appeal of this complex.

When we bought our home in this complex did we bargain for pets piddling and pooing at their own free will. We proudly showcase the plush interiors of our house to our guests. But do we feel equally proud when our guests see or mistakenly step into faeces. Then we blame it on housekeeping boys, quickly shrugging our own responsibility. We proudly boast of the pedigree and the breed of ancestors of the pets, hire a dog-handler to take care of the pet, then why don’t we instruct the dog-handler to also scoop the poop or do we feel that we are living in democratic free society and we have got license to flout the freedom at our own free will. All of us are grown-up enough to differentiate between right and wrong, then why we always need to be told to do the right thing.

Why do we wait for some punishing rules, fines to be imposed in order to fall in line?

Why don’t we demonstrate leadership by taking that first right step? Instead why we choose to follow the mis-behavioural pattern of another errant irritant?

Are we not capable enough of initiating the change which we are looking for in overall living condition and sanitation standards?

This is a matter of decency and respect for others. Lets do that introspection. Let the pet-owners today decide that pet-poop will be scooped post-haste and let others decide that if we see pet-handler uncaringly walk away we will not look the other way and immediately point out to pet-handler what are  the acceptable norms of social decency.

Hopefully situation will get remedied sooner rather than later so that our social behaviour and social responsibility is worth emulating by our children.