I walked into the gym the other and immediately noticed something: a tiny dog in a gym bag.
The dog, at least, was chill. It sat there, albeit nervously, while its owner worked out.
Oh no, I thought. It’s starting here, too.
Pets and reason are often mutually exclusive
This story — in my mind, anyway — begins several years ago. A friend of another good friend of mine went to visit her for a few days with his small dog.
The situation quickly turned into a nightmare for my friend: the dog peed and pooped everywhere in the apartment. And the owner? He simply didn’t think it was a big deal and saw no need to clean it up. Really, what on earth was my friend so upset about?
I start with this anecdote to remind us of something important: you cannot count on people to behave reasonably. Especially when it comes to their pets.
Run-ins with pet owners
I’ve personally had several run-ins with dog owners here, something I’m not proud to admit. But my goodness, common sense seems to just leave the room completely sometimes! Usually, my run-ins have been at parks when I’m with my own dog.
My dog is chill. She obeys; she comes when called; she doesn’t bark hysterically for stupid reasons at other people or animals. I don’t let her jump on people, and I immediately pick up her poop so no one has to risk stepping in it. If parents let their kid run up to pet her (a very stupid thing to let one’s kid do if you don’t know the dog), I gently explain to them the best and safest way to get close to a dog.
Even so, I would not dream of letting her wander off-leash in a public place. Plenty of people, though, do — hence my conflicts with strangers. Most of my fights with other dog owners have been because they let their own dogs off-leash. These dogs are usually about as well-trained as tantruming toddlers, and often run toward mine, barking and being generally aggressive. “Stoooop it!” they might whine at their dogs half-heartedly as I rush to scoop my dog up before their teeth meet her jugular.
And then it begins: me griping at them for not having their dogs on a leash, and them ignoring me, sometimes with a derisive laugh. “Señora histérica.”
Losing friends and not influencing people
I even lost a friend once because I told her it was her responsibility to get her wandering dog fixed before it was her neighbor’s responsibility to keep her own dog inside.
Really, what is it with people?
Sigh.
My own base assumption, therefore, is this: the general public cannot be trusted to be considerate of other dogs or people when it comes to their own animals.
Business owners know this and keep strict rules about their acceptance of dogs or pets. Many cafés, for example, will only accept dogs on a leash and only allow them at outside tables. This is smart. The idea is to make sure the presence of one’s dog is a privilege, not a right, and one that can be taken away if it bothers workers or other guests.
OMG: Dogs at the mall
So imagine my surprise when I began seeing, on a regular basis, dogs at the mall. Inside.
Usually, the dogs are small. Occasionally, they’re in a stylish bag or even a stroller, but more often than not, they’re simply being walked on a leash. Again, inside.
Now, don’t get me wrong: I love dogs. I’ve pretty much always had a dog, and I probably always will.
But part of caring for one’s dog is not jumping to the conclusion that every other person you come across will also love and be good to your dog. You’d think that fact alone would make people think twice about walking them in a crowded mall. What if someone kicks them? What if someone scares them, or rushes at them and gets bitten?
What if someone’s allergic and has to simply go home because you won’t? What if the dog suddenly darts to the side and someone trips over its leash and hurts themselves?
What if the dog pees on the floor (because what choice would it have?)? Do dog owners come armed with paper towels, trash bags and Fabuloso in a spray bottle? I mean, dogs are mostly angels, but they’re gross angels. Peeing is literally their handshake and their signature. Dog gods forbid a bunch of dogs start “marking” in the same spot.
Gross.
Consider the perspective of dogs
Then there’s the dog itself to think about: an outing to the mall with their owner is most likely not the fun, carefree experience they think it is. Dogs get stressed easily, especially when surrounded by an assault of new people, smells and seemingly endless space. Most of the ones I’ve seen in the malls look downright terrified, jumping at every new sound.
I don’t even want to know what happens if two people walking their dogs at the mall run into each other. With all these dogs suddenly appearing in places that were not built for them, there’s bound to be trouble.
But more than anything, I’m simply flabbergasted that anyone thinks it’s a good idea to take their dogs everywhere with them.
Mexico has come a long way over the past few decades when it comes to how they treat their animals. When I first arrived, pretty much everyone kept their dogs on their roofs or on their patios. They were for keeping places safe, much more than for the emotional comfort of their owners.
Mexico is changing fast when it comes to dogs
I should have guessed how much was changing when the first Petco came to town and actually stayed in business.
The concept of perrijos is now a familiar one — a combination of the words perro and hijo (“dog” and “son or daughter”).
It works because dogs can be super annoying, the same way other people’s kids can be super annoying. And “dog parents” can be just as inconsiderate about letting their animals terrorize a space the way regular parents allow their kids to do.
The difference, of course, is that we’re all collectively training kids to become part of civilization. It’s part of our job as a society.
It is not part of our job to help socialize one’s dog, especially in a place not made to accommodate them.
Remain calm … for now
So why am I suddenly seeing dogs at the mall?
Partially, I believe, it is that people like to see what they can get away with, and then keep doing it if they can. Having gotten away with it before becomes a justification for continuing a behavior. “But I brought my dog here last month and no one said a thing!”
I’ve been looking for information, actually, on whether or not the malls in my city are pet-friendly, and it’s inconclusive. AI says they are, but it’s drawing information from other places, not where I’m looking. And at a mall, who’s stopping people at the doors?
For now, I’m trying to remain calm as I wonder what went wrong. Did the isolation of the pandemic make us forget how to be considerate of others? Do people simply sense the world is falling apart and they’re going to do what makes them happy, other people be damned? Are we becoming the absolute opposite of Japan?
It’s hard to say. For the moment, I’ll simply leave you with a simple plea: for the love of Dog — leave your furry friends at home when you’re going to the mall!
Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.
