And the dummies are the owners. It is a universal truth that no-one can survive for more than 30 seconds without being connected to their phone. Life would end if that text was left unread for longer or if you weren’t sharing an inane, rote life with someone (anyone) on WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok (and good luck with that one after the latest security breach for members) and Facebook. It must be awful and cause extreme stress to have to wait, or cheat, whilst at work or school when something else needs your attention, so clearly the downtime is yours.
I have a dog. I love my dog. I adopted my dog because I wanted a companion, someone to share, someone to spoil, someone to love, but I also knew that adoption came with responsibilities. Dogs have a bond with their owners. They love you unconditionally so is it too much to ask that you acknowledge their existence when out walking? It seems that you get the concept of ‘taking the dog for a walk’ but, let’s be honest here, you might as well take the lead on its own, head for the nearest bench, and continue to make love to your phone. I have a balcony and an unrivalled view of the antics of the local dog walkers. They amble up to the expanse of green on autopilot, the dog being the excited GPS tracker. The serious ‘I love my phone so much'(ILMP) crew, release the dog off lead and with head bent and the phone in both hands, feverishly bang at keys; well their life depends on it. The dog bounces, circles, runs back and forth and eventually barks to get some attention. It is not forthcoming and unless there is another dog to play with, they lie down and wait.
The ILMPs who keep hold of the lead, are adept at banging the keys with one hand or holding the phone to their ear. It would be easier to glue it. I am sure the arm is now programmed and automatically returns to the same position if lowered. Could be embarassing in some situations. But these people are never embarassed. They come with a ball launcher and if a breath is taken between calls and banging the keys, the ball is launched. The excited dog runs, jumps and catches it, and returns to the owner, ball in mouth, waiting. And waiting, and waiting and waiting. It is cruel and unnecessary.
I have a dog. I love my dog. I adopted my dog because I wanted a companion, someone to share, someone to spoil, someone to love, but...
These ILMPs don’t know where their dogs have pooped, what they might have eaten or whether a chance cat or squirrel has peaked their interest and they have run off. “My dog would never do that,” they confidently say to others.
I walked my dog yesterday and although I went round the apartment blocks in a circle to end up on the green, I kept meeting the same man with the same dog. He seemed to be walking up and down without purpose, but at speed and with a phone held to his ear. I heard a lot of his conversation, it was difficult not to. The dog was just trying to keep up with the pace. I thought I had finally lost him, but I turned to the green and he appeared again, to meet a lady with another dog and also with a phone held to her ear. They didn’t say a word to each other, too busy on the phones, but the man’s dog pooped and he cleared it up, without breaking his conversation. That was the signal. Business was done. The dog had pooped and he could go home. As I circled the green, the woman had disappeared and the man was walking off with both dogs, phone still held to his ear. A few minutes later, the woman followed him with some shopping from the local shop, phone still held to her ear. I mused at how she handled the shopping and paying but we have all seen the person in front of us in a shop totally oblivious to anyone but themselves and their phone, fumbling for their card without taking a breath.
Your dog deserves some attention. It is their walk, not yours. They need to sniff and explore and know that you love them. Don’t be a dummy, please.
