by Mathew Bomki

It would not be an exaggeration to describe Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow as ‘the dog’s paradise.’

This is one of the first things a foreigner like myself observes when he or she walks through this lush park. Coming from a culture where dogs do not really have a place in the hearts of many, it comes as a culture shock to see dogs of different breeds and cross-breeds roving around in the company of their owners.  Back home, at least in the part I come from in Cameroon, people do possess dogs, but mostly hounds, or what are derogatorily called ‘ngong dogs’. These are mostly used for hunting. In a given area, one could count very few compounds with dogs. Some people, especially the wealthy, have guard dogs and most of these are imported breeds like German Shepherds, or special breeds. It takes a foreigner some time to come to terms with the fact that in supermarkets here in the West, there are special aisles for dogs and pets.

Most pets at home are cats. People have cats for utility reasons: they are good at getting rid of mice and are safer than the chemical products called ‘arater,’ which could be a threat to the lives of the household if they inadvertently come in contact with food. This product has cost people their lives.

Mathew Bomki is a Cameroonian Jesuit priest who is studying at the University of Edinburgh.

Photo by Alvan Nee on Unsplash