MORE HDB residents are owning dogs. The dogs also seem to be getting larger.
Owning a dog has become an indicator of status in our society.
I have no problem with this, unless the dog-owners are irresponsible and inconsiderate.
Unfortunately, some are.
Recently, I have twice seen owners allowing their dogs to urinate in the void deck of HDB flats in my neighbourhood.
Although I have not seen them in action, I noticed dog droppings in these void decks and in nearby parks.
This is both unhygienic and unacceptable. The poor estate cleaners are left to clear up the mess.
On another occasion, I was walking towards a nearby coffee shop when I turned a corner.
There in the lift lobby was a resident with his dog, waiting for the lift. The dog was large and looked none too friendly. It did not bark but looked like it would do so any second. The owner made no attempt to move or let me pass.
Sizing up the situation, I turned away and took another route. But all the way I was thinking: Why allow dogs in HDB flats to begin with?
Obviously, not all dog-owners are irresponsible. Probably about half of them are, and they give the other half a bad name.
Since it is impossible to tell them apart, the authorities should ban HDB residents from keeping dogs. This is not discrimination, but instead an instance of applying common sense and being pragmatic.
