It’s a dog thing

One thing I learned on the canvass trail is that densities in suburbia are much higher than people actually think. The problem is that the statistics only count two-legged residents of households. Add in the four-legged occupants and the population of Dublin South escalates dramatically. Almost every home has a dog or multiple dogs, which proportionately represent the canine gene pool from somnolent St. Bernards to prissy poodles. Some households boast big trophy dogs, while others favour the Parish Hiltonesque small dogs.

Dog owner households hold a particular canvass difficulty. You get the door open, but as we launch into our pitch we notice that the dog owner has assumed a pained expression, and a painfully contorted pose. They are trying to block the doorway, without actually closing the door in your face. Instead of focusing on the merits of the candidate, its all about “stopping the dog from running out”. We put your pitch on speed dial and watch with apprehension as the owner’s legs, precariously crossed begin to wobble and the dog bludgeons his way through to freedom . Exasperated, the household snatches the leaflet and retreats. The canvassing team rally round making a vain effort to corral the offending dog and shepherd him/her home …it’s a doggone drag…..