Every day I walk to school I look for poop. Dog poop on the sidewalk here in Spain is as common as an oil stain in a parking lot. It is so insanely common that it has become a ritual for me to dodge as many poop piles as possible on my daily walks to work and back. You're probably thinking why is there so much crap on the sidewalk? Good question, I have three theories for this one.
Number one, the lack of grass. There are so many dogs in this little town of Motril, some with owners some wondering the streets, sniffing and doing their business like all dogs do. Except here there are not enough grassy spots for these little scoundrels to relieve themselves on. Ok, maybe there are a few places, but the important word here is -few.
Number two, they love there dogs here. The Spaniards have a leash in one hand and their newspaper in the other. They take their dogs everywhere including the tapa bars if the owners allows it. Since backyards don't exist, walking their dogs in the city streets is the next best thing. Living in small apartments without backyards doesn't stop these dog lovers from having a mans best friend.
Number three, it is totally acceptable to let your dog poop on a busy sidewalk and not pick it up. Not kidding! And it's not just on the sidewalks. It's true, I have found dog poop and pee inside the apartment corridor and even in the elevator. How do you let your dog do its business in an elevator and not pick it up? Come on people! What the hell is wrong with you? I have seen only one pet waste station here in Motril and every time I pass it, it's empty, no baggies just some gum and cigarette butts inside the little bin. Picking up the poop here is not a priority I suppose.
This poop problem must not bother them. I can count on both hands how many times I have stepped in a pile of shit here in Spain. Sometimes I get lucky and sometimes the poo is so fresh I wish a power washer would fall out of the sky for me.
I even thought about making a spray paint stencil saying "Clean la Caca!" to tag some walls here and there since tagging is so popular in Spain. But I didn't. Should have though! Clean la Caca campaign might have looked good on my resume, right?
Poop begone doesn't exist but I have lived here long enough to learn how to jump over the multitude of brown sidewalk paint a.k.a. POOP!!!!!!
