Sunday, October 9, 2011

Shopping with Pets

If you have a dog, and have to go shopping, in a shop where they do not allow dogs, what will you do? A thing I forgot to mention is that you seem to be a alone when you do your shopping, also none of your friends were free to be accompanying you with these chores. So you cannot just keep your dog at home, all alone, for the duration of your shopping chores. So you take him along, only to tie him/leave him outside the shop waiting for you. And this is just something that I see across the UK, it doesn't seem all that bad on the dog, I'm sure he/she wont mind some alone time, maybe see a few pretty dogs walk by as he waits.
Sadly, the dogs dearly miss their owners, I have many times seen them looking earnestly at the people coming out of the shops as if expecting them to be their owners but always looking away from them disappointed. I never had an issue seeing this outside as the owners usually got back from their shopping in around 10-15 mins and they were heading back. This is something usually outside Tesco and Sainsbury. The dogs themselves have been well behaved otherwise, not even barking or any trouble for that matter, but just waiting. So today while I was out in Bath, a historic city in SouthWest England, I saw something that just made me very sad.

This was right outside the M&S store on the high street. She was a very lovable one, just sitting there, those eyes were only looking for the owner who had one inside. She had a collar on her. Everytime some passerby ooh'd and aah'd at her and even pet her, she still kept staring inside the store. I was outside the store for about 30 mins waiting for my friends, so atleast she had some company. When my friends finally came, I told them I think I better go talk with the floor manager of M&S to check of the owner was in the store. But then when I finally got hold of one of the security guys and walked outside, she was gone, hopefully with her rightful owner. 
So coming to my point, my gripe.... I personally hate it when people do that with their dogs. No matter how patient their dogs are. I have been in the UK for the last 14 months now, originally from India, I have three labradors back home. And I would always have someone from my family with them if this kind of a scenario ever happened. It was either me. my sisters or either of my parents who stayed back to look back at the kids (as I refer to my pets). I know, the luxury that I have, of having atleast someone around to look after my pets when I am not around isnt something that all can have, but still, I would like to figure some way out so that any of the pets dont have to be left alone, even if it is for a little while. Pets are like kids, they are completely dependent on us. I know, many people will not agree with my take on this, but just saying that if I were in that position, I would make sure that my pet would be very happy always like all my loved ones.

I seriously miss my pets.....