The Waste Operative

One of the hidden gems, and most underrated parts of my job, is the random chats, encounters and experiences which happen throughout the work (walk) day.

The Waste Operative does not refer to one of your Dogs who had a bad stomach. For more of a poo based story, check out “an Awkward Conversation” blogpost from last week.

Instead it was a rather lovely person who I met in the middle of today when picking up one of my doggy adventurers in Sagene.

They used to be called Rubbish Men or Bin Men, but apparently that job title and term is now frowned upon in our Modern Woke Society. And so we can choose between Waste Operative, Refuse Collector, Bin Collector or Waste collector, just so that you all know your options.

Anyways, back to this most lovely of Mondays…. I was lifting a dog into the back of my truck as the rubbish truck, or waste collection vehicle as I’m sure we are now supposed to call it, pulled up alongside, blocking me in.

This was not a problem and I was happy to wait two minutes whilst they collected the bins from my customers’ building.

As one of the Operatives walked past my van he remarked that I was driving his dream truck.

I smiled and thanked him for his lovely comment and then he saw the dogs in the front.

He informed me that back home in Romania he had five dogs in his house. Four of them were stray dogs which he had adopted and rehomed.

After he had greeted the two dogs in the front I asked him if he would like to meet the dogs in the back of the truck, and whether he had time.

He informed me that for dogs he always had time.

And so I introduced him to four dogs in the back. He was both overjoyed to get to say hello, but also to see how happy the dogs were.

I explained that we would be heading out into the woods and going on a good Adventure very shortly.

He asked cautiously whether I let the dogs run free. I explained that as one dog was coming back from injury he would be attached to me regardless, and that one other dog I would have to decide upon depending on how well the dog responded.

By now his smile was beaming from ear to ear and he thanked me greatly for having had the chance to meet the Dogs.

I could tell that he missed his dogs back home in Romania.

We parted with a handshake and some more smiles and good wishes.

For me these types of random, small encounters enrich both my day and my life. Owning or working with dogs allows a communication gateway to open up which otherwise might not be there.

Doggies: Hedda, Lotta, Lucy, My, Kuling and Haraka