Professional dog walkers or paseadores de perros, work in the better off neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, trotting along with up to twenty dogs at a time.
This profession emerged after the 2001 economic crisis when citizens were struggling for new ways to make money. Today, having a professional dog walker is considered a status symbol for some Porteños (as is having a full-bred dog, despite the animal overpopulation problem).
Buenos Aires dog walkers are pros at leading the pack and earn comfortable salaries. The best dog walkers hook the dogs to their belt to prevent escapes, provide the pooches with plenty of exercise and — God willing — pick up the doggy’s ‘presents’ normally left on the sidewalks.
