The Dog Walkers

Porteños love their dogs and it is estimated that there are over half a million in Buenos Aires.  In upscale neighbourhoods, dog walkers or "paseadores de perros" are everywhere.  The other day we saw 5 dog walkers in one block and each walker had around ten dogs each.  Apparently following the economic crisis in Argentina in 2001, porteños looked for new ways to earn a living and so professional dog walking took off in the better neighbourhoods.  It has since become a status symbol to have a dog walker for your dog.  Some walkers attach the leashes to their belts, keeping their hands free, and of course the walkers are supposed to look after anything left behind on the sidewalk.  We have noticed that a few walkers are not as diligent as others in this respect!   Good walkers earn a comfortable living. We are amazed at how calm the dogs are as a group towards each other and to pedestrians who pass by.