I don’t know about you, but I go everywhere in Maadi on foot. Nearly all of the places we want to go – Road 9, al-Arab square, the Candy Store, the Field, CAC – they are all approximately a 20-minute walk away from our apartment near Grand Mall. I enjoy walking! It’s great exercise and I love that my kids are so used to it that they don’t bat an eyelash at the prospect of walking 20 minutes to get to where they want to go. Oh, and we don’t even have a car, so there’s that too…
When you walk as much as we do, and if you are a little bit curious and outgoing, you may get to know the other denizens of your route. This happened to us, one dark and stormy night.
Ha! I almost got you there. If you’ve lived in Egypt long enough, you’d know we don’t really have dark and stormy nights. But we do have sunsets, and it was at twilight one evening while walking along Road 20 that we saw him: the Phantom Dog Walker.
We almost missed him. We turned a corner and just caught a glimpse of a young man, walking 10 dogs abreast, disappearing around the next corner. Surprised, the questions just tumbled out: Did you see that guy? With all the dogs? How…? Who…? WHY…??
(The Phantom Dog Walker)
We had so many questions that first night. What started out as a phantasmic appearance one misty night grew to 1-2 sightings per week. The sightings weren’t so often that they grew mundane; no, a sighting of the Phantom Dog Walker was a source of wonder and excitement for my kids. Who is this guy? Whose dogs are they? How in the world does this guy walk so many dogs at the same time? What does he do to keep them from barking back at each new pack of excited baladi dogs on their route? The Phantom Dog Walker was always two steps ahead of us, just out of reach, and our questions remained unanswered for nearly two years.
Yes, for nearly two years we weren’t quite sure the Phantom Dog Walker was even actually real when…BAM! We rounded a corner and there he was. We were nearly on top of him.
We got all our questions answered that day: Michael…Various dog owners in Maadi…Years of experience…Daily training of the dog and the dog’s owners. We also gained a new friend that day. But if I am being honest, I am just a little bit sad that the Phantom Dog Walker – Michael – is no longer a figure shrouded in mystery. Ah well. I’m fairly certain there’s a mystery waiting for me around the next corner.
(The Grand Mall Pet Shops)
Pet ownership in Maadi – a few quick hacks:
- Want a well-trained dog? Well, I’ve got some news for you: you’ll have to be trained alongside your furbaby. Michael’s dance card is pretty full, but he may be able to squeeze you in. Reach him on Instagram here.
- Looking for pet supplies (or just a random monkey)? Check out the pet shops near Grand Mall. Or avoid them completely. They attract some criticism for their small cages and monkeys.
- Traveling? Need boarding for your pet? Try Meowgical Nights for your cat and the Maadi Pet Club for your dog.
- New to the pet scene and need a vet? Dr. Kareem at the British Animal Hospital Maadi Branch is your man. Kind-hearted and professional – you will love him.
- Concerned about pet food quality? Try Hachiko Friends. They deliver pet food made from human-grade ingredients directly to your door.
