Anna Mae Dela Cruz 3
S10
What pisses you off at malls
Half-way measures, that's what. Let's take the example of Eastwood and BGC's dog-friendly policies. Both establishments began welcoming canine companions in the recent years. Both allow responsible owners to tow along their pets as long as these register with mall security and submit vaccination records. As a result, individuals and families frequent these malls more often and stay there longer, whether it's because they can bring the whole family along, have their leisure without worrying about the morose and hungry animal at home, or enjoy the added eye candy. I don't have the numbers, but I am certain these new policies have brought in more revenue than a bunch of other marketing tactics, especially as there are only two open-air, dog-friendly, park-like establishments in Metro Manila. There are more social media posts featuring these malls too, thanks to people taking pictures of cute dogs.
This has certainly been a welcome change, but there is still much to be done. I once brought a dog to the Fort and felt confident she'd be welcome there. Her presence was tolerated, unfortunately I could not bring her into the restaurants (and there were no outdoor tables at this particular restaurant strip). So she was chained to fence outside, and though I was thrilled to see the waiters dote on her and give her water (with ice!), I was less than happy to find her miserable and muddied later on. She barked throughout lunchtime because she's not comfortable having us out of her sight. Somebody had knocked her water over and she sat in a dirty puddle for an hour. I still had errands to run but we had to head home because not even the most disciplined dog can hold her bladder for so long. Apparently places that allow dogs don't think about the fact that they need designated toilets too. Eastwood is an improvement. There's a watering hole for dogs, and a special trash bin for poop bags. One wonders why they don't have a designated lamppost for peeing as everybody knows that excrement comes in two forms. What makes it worse than Fort, however, is that restaurant choices for people with pets are even more limited, as is the strolling space.
I'm not about to ask for a first-aid animal clinic to be constructed at every commercial area, or to have provisions for aquatic, reptilian, and avian pets too. I am merely asking for the essentials—a place to eat, drink, poop, and pee. I'm glad about these pet-friendly policies, but if we must try to be more inclusive, then can we try to be truly inclusive. Welcoming new species must mean more than simply allowing them entry. The thought process is good exercise for other things too: Welcoming new target markets—whether it's a different specie or a different demographic—means more than allowing them entry. It means reconfiguring what we offer in order to accommodate their needs and preferences, and being determined to provide an experience that will keep them coming back and staying with us longer. It's called customer orientation.
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