Of pets and arrogant owners

Edwin Gruppetta (September 4) rightly mentions the arrogance of certain official bodies. When these powerful know-alls have no answer or excuse they stay dumb. It has been such a case in St Paul's Bay for many years.

Unfortunately, the new mayor is still very young, just out of university, and has had no experience in management or local government. This is one of the drawbacks of the present system. A mayor should have at least one, if not both, of two qualifications, namely experience as a councillor and management. In the vast St Paul's Bay area there seems to be one preferential zone, namely the Buġibba Square; and second, third or even fourth rate areas. I and others have written a number of letters to which hardly any reply or explanation was ever given.

Regarding pets, I beg to differ. If Mr Gruppetta and his ilk want to keep dogs, let them do so without annoying other persons. Dogs, by their very nature, are aggressive animals. They wee and poop when they feel like it, at times to mark the area for other dogs to notice. Can Mr Gruppetta tell me how many dog owners clean up after their pets? What do they do with the mess? How can they clean up the wee which in summer stinks to high heaven?

I, therefore, urge Mr Gruppetta to enjoy his pet but let us enjoy clean streets and pavements. Why should we clean after his pastime? Arrogant owners do not even bother that their dogs, big and small, dirty in front of garages and doors.

So dog owners take note, one of these days there will be a proper experienced mayor and council who would be ready to take all the necessary action irrespective against whom such action is taken. Perhaps I suffer from delusions and wishful thinking, but it is high time in the puny island that all authorities and politicians stand up to be counted.