Dogs and other pets

As I walked around Fresh Pond in Cambridge, a runner caught my eye. He was accompanied by a large canine, who loped along at a comfortable distance. I recognized the duo as frequent visitors to the pond, their daily routine a familiar sight to me.
The dog suddenly veered off into the dense trees to poop. The runner, noticing his companion’s departure, quickly turned around and disappeared into the foliage in search for the poop. I continued my walk, my thoughts wandering as I left the pair behind. Minutes later, the runner passed by again, with a large bag of poop in his hand.
I couldn’t help but reflect on the scene I had just witnessed. Two millennia ago, Caesar would have been incredulous at the sight of wealthy foreigners doting on their lapdogs and monkeys, but now we have come to expect to see people cleaning up after their pets. Is this a sign of progress? Or is it a sign of regression?