Dubai
Gulf News readers ask for pet owners to take responsibility and pick up the waste after their pets have relieved themselves.
Karen Beggs, a Dubai resident, is one of them. She runs a pet grooming parlour in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) and walks several dogs on a daily basis.
She said: “We walk dogs for people who are working all day in this area. While we’re out, we see many people who are out with their dogs and majority of them do not pick up after their pets. You will frequently see dog waste on the pavements and walking areas of JVC. Some dogs are getting walked by the domestic workers, who are clearly not trained to properly take care of the waste. It’s ultimately the owner’s responsibility, and cleaning it properly can help the neighbourly relationships between dog owners and those in the area who don’t have pets.”
People with busy schedules often drop their pooches off at Beggs parlour. They provide bags so when Beggs takes their pet for a walk, she can easily clean up after.
She said: “Lifting dog poo and disposing it responsibly is an activity that affects public health and safety. We even sell bags designed to lift dog waste. The best way for pet owners to clean up is to accept that the activity is gross, but has to be done. They can collect it in a bag, tie the bag and then throw it into a bin. Some pet stores also have scoops with arm-length handles so that the pet owner barely has to bend. If you don’t clean up after your dog, it’s unsightly and annoys other residents. The waste can contain harmful bacteria and germs, which other pets or children can walk into and spread around. The waste becomes more infectious the longer it is left out.”
Gayle Marina McMurdock Smith, a resident of Ras Al Khaimah, thinks that domestic workers need to be trained on how to clean up after a dog.
She said: “I took on a rescued desert dog eight years ago whilst I was a resident of Dubai’s Mirdif area. I soon found that buying biodegradable nappy bags was perfect for our walks. But, in all of my eight years, I have had to spend time dodging other dogs’ leavings. I was shocked at how many domestic workers walked the pets rather than the owners. And how they would take them to the sandy areas around the houses to relieve themselves. Later on, I would see children coming home from school and playing in the same sandy areas. I couldn’t believe the lack of concern for the children by negligent dog owners! I don’t blame the helpers. It’s the owners’ responsibility to ensure that their dog’s mess is cleared away so as not to be a health hazard or a disgusting problem for others when walking. I now live in Ras Al Khaimah and sadly the situation is the same here.”
Abdul Matheen Yousuf, a resident of Dubai’s Al Nahda area, has had to endure the issue of dog mess in his building.
He said: “The way our building is structured is that there is a porch just beneath our floor. The people who live in the apartment below ours got a dog a few days ago and potty train it on this porch. So, whenever the dog needs to relieve itself, it comes out. Since our house is directly above theirs, this is our view everytime we step into the balcony or look out the window.”
Yousuf says that he has spoken to the pet owner, the building management and security personnel. However, nothing has changed.
He said: “There is constantly a bad smell emanating from the porch. When I spoke to the owners, they cleaned up the area, but then the problem persisted. A lot of other people in the building have pets and even take them for walks in the area. We’ve never faced an issue with others, as they always clean up the waste.”
Giles Heaton, another Dubai resident, faces a similar issue.
He said: “My neighbour has got one of those small dogs that pees itself in excitement when it gets taken for walks. It makes the marble floor outside our apartment a little sticky.”
Sheena Smith has had to clean up after other pets.
She said: “I’m a responsible dog owner, and I often clean up after other inconsiderate owners fail to do so. I live in a community with children, and my building welcomes pets, so we conform to cleanliness. Remember, many folks rehome stray and dumped pets, too!”
Nawar Saleh, a resident of Abu Dhabi’s Al Reef community, has the same complaints.
She said: “Despite some pet owners who scoop after their pets, we still suffer from those who let their pets do their business on the clean lawns where most of our children tend to play and have some fun. We would appreciate that the property management post signs of prohibiting such incidents.”
