The Old Man with the Evil Eye

 

Like every morning, I stepped outside today with Orisha and Louis — my two adorable four-legged companions — like the canine version of an unlikely buddy cop duo.

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Orisha, a fluffy border collie, and Louis, a miniature version of an alpha dog — in other words, a chihuahua.

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I live in Limburg, in a car-free residential park. Perfect for a peaceful morning stroll, to slowly wake up and let the day unfold. Yet again, I felt that energy on my back: eyes drilling into me, a judgment like a dark cloud heading my way.

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There I was, bent over, two leashes in my left hand, a poop bag in my right — with, yes, a fresh pile of dog poop inside. And there he was: an older man cycling past, slowly shaking his head in disapproval. Really? I’m the one who cleans up every single day. I’m the one who often also picks up the icy, rock-hard “souvenirs” left behind by less responsible dog owners. (And believe me, there is nothing quite as gross as picking up frozen dog poop with only a thin plastic bag between you and it.)

 

But no, this man still found it necessary to throw me his ‘evil devil eye’. On a sunny morning. On a national holiday.

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I looked at him: “Is there a problem?”
Him: “Yes, there’s a problem!” (with the arrogance of someone who thinks he’s the official poop patrol of Belgium).
Me, suppressing my sense of injustice: “That sounds like a YOU problem.”

And I let him cycle away with a smile.

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It’s not the first time, and it certainly won’t be the last. Over the years, walking with my dogs, I’ve received all kinds of ridiculous remarks:

• “They’re off-leash!” — but they’re not bothering you.

• “Your dog should be on a leash!” — my dog is on a leash, it’s just invisible to people without Bluetooth.

• “Dogs are not welcome!” — my dog has better manners than your ice-cream-covered toddler.

• “They might bite!” — My dog has no teeth for you, but apparently plenty for your fragile ego.

• “They shed everywhere!” — Oh really, as if your clothes don’t collect lint and dust from absolutely everything else in the world.

• “They smell!” — My dog smells like nature, sunshine, and adventure. Your perfume smells like synthetic stress bottled up in a fancy glass.

• “You should keep them inside!” — Because yes, dogs clearly shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy the outdoors… not.

• “They can’t run off-leash here, it’s dangerous for kids!” — And your kids are completely immune to curiosity, tripping over roots, or learning that animals are friendly? One parent even crossed the street rather than pass my tiny duo — as if the chihuahua were leading a pack of wolves.

 

Not to mention the countless devil eyes I’ve received every single time my dog does his business — even when it’s all cleaned up. The very existence of a dog doing what dogs do seems to be too much for some people to handle.

 

But the absolute winner has to be: “Do you know how much urine goes into the ground?” 🧐
Seriously? Where do you think your urine ends up? 🫣

 

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The Hypocrisy of Human 

 

We’re all so quick to shout about the environment, global warming, plastic waste, pesticides, pollution… But think about it for a second:

Our planet would look so much more beautiful without us humans. Animals — including dogs — are part of nature. They are fauna and flora. They live in balance with their surroundings, something we stopped doing centuries ago.

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Have you ever seen a dog leave behind cans?
A dog drop cigarette butts in the grass?
A dog spray pesticides on crops to make them bigger?
A dog cut down trees to build yet another housing project?
A dog pump hormones into cattle to make them fatter?

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Exactly.

 

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Why Fauna & Flora Outlive Us 

 

We often think we are indispensable, but without nature, we are nothing.

• Bees: Without them, the pollination of flowers and crops stops. No pollination = no food. Globally, 75% of food crops depend on pollinators like bees.

• Wolves: In ecosystems where wolves return, like in Yellowstone, vegetation recovers. Wolves regulate deer populations, allowing forests and rivers to heal. More vegetation = better biodiversity = a healthier ecosystem.

 

Nature doesn’t need us. We need her.

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“Nature will survive without us. We will not survive without her.”

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I could bring up so many more points, but I think by now I’ve made my point.