The dog-walker

Buenos Aires is the capital of dogs! There are around half a million dogs (450,000 according to the 2021 census), which means that 22% of Buenos Aires households own at least one dog.

That's why it's not strange to see these typical "dog-walkers" on the streets of the capital.

In Paris, by comparison, only 9 % of households own a dog, compared with 22 % in Buenos Aires.

There are 2.3 times as many dogs per square kilometer in Buenos Aires.

In Paris, walkers are only seen in the Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne, and very rarely in the city center.

The proportion of dogs in the Argentine capital is higher in the working-class southern part of the city than in the northern part, where wealthier households live: For example, in Commune 2 (Recoleta), only 10 % of households have a dog, while in Commune 8 (Villa Lugano, Soldati and Riachuelo), one of the poorest, this proportion reaches 44 %!

Source: General Directorate of Statistics and Censuses, Ministry of Finance and Treasury GCBA, EAH 2018 Annual Household Survey.

In Buenos Aires, dog walking is a regulated profession... although, as is customary in Argentina, the regulations are not fully respected. In particular, no more than 8 dogs may be walked per professional, but many dog walkers take up to 12 dogs with them.

We estimate 6000 the number of walkers in the city of Buenos Aires. One of their unions has 1,500 members.

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Caniparks" or kennels

The government of the city of Buenos Aires has made the welfare of dogs one of its priorities.

A Buenos Aires city government document states that "pets are part of our families, and that's why we want your pet to be able to enjoy the city with you.

In particular, it has invested considerable sums in the reconstruction and creation of so-called "dog parks". kennels (caniles) (440000 us$ in 2019). Kennels are exclusive places for these pets to stay. These areas have everything needed for the animals' recreation and relaxation. Some are equipped with artificial turf and dog play equipment. The La Paternal park has specially designed floors that absorb and filter liquids without causing mud or waterlogging. It is equipped with dog slides and tunnels, and signage with recommendations on how to care for dogs.

Source : Crónica 26-06-2018

There are some sixty kennels in the capital. By comparison, in Paris itself, there are only four "cani parcs" and four more in the inner suburbs.

In another initiative, the city government has succeeded in getting over 1,800 restaurants to allow dogs to stay at outdoor tables. It provides restaurant owners with training and kits including water troughs and hooks for tying up dogs. Participating establishments are identified as "pet-friendly establishments".

Other initiatives by the capital's government include free mobile vaccination centers and the creation of a free "BA Pets" app containing useful information for dog owners..

Surprising initiatives! Is the priority given to dogs by the capital's government justified? Is it reasonable?

To an outsider living in Paris, it's strange, to say the least, to see such a considerable effort on behalf of dogs in a city where the poverty rate is 22 % of the population.

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Verónica

On my last trip, I had an appointment with an excellent dog walker, Verónicain the Plaza Noruega kennel. I transcribe here the gist of his answers, interspersed with barks (ouah, ouah) and "dialogues" betweenVerónica and his dogs.

How long have you been working as a promoter?

"I've been working with dogs for 20 years. A lifetime.

I get up at 4 am, live in Pilar (50 km from the capital) and work from 6 am to 2.30 pm. I pick up the dogs at their home, the customer entrusts them to me and when I've finished walking them, I take them back to their home where the customer receives them or they entrust me with a key so that I can drop them off. I work from Monday to Friday. I used to work on Saturdays, but I don't have the energy anymore. ("Go over there, big guy").

I take them to the kennel, which is a place where they can play, run, drink water and where we can rest.

How did you get started?

I had a neighbor who walked dogs and needed someone to help her. And since I really liked dogs, I agreed.

The truth is, I've always loved animals. At home, I have eight dogs and three cats. I keep the cats in my bedroom and the dogs in the living room and garden. During the vacations, I also look after dogs at my home as a dog boarder. I have 4 children, (27,25,24 and 10 years old) all 4 have grown up with dogs since birth. For the youngest, I worked with dogs until I was eight and a half months pregnant, I had dogs and belly ("Bicho be quiet").

Isn't it dangerous to walk 12 dogs in town?

When I walk down the street, there's usually no problem. Dogs walk quietly beside me, but there may be a problem if another dog barks nearby. (" Akiraplease").

I don't get tired of dogs, I get tired of people. People are so uncool. They insult dogs, they insult you because you walk by and a dog touches them. Or they come with little dogs and throw them at mine. And they don't realize that if they throw a dog into a pack of 11 dogs, they're going to want to eat it. My dogs go crazy and then they don't want to walk anymore.

I've fallen several times and have meniscus and ligament problems, so I wear knee pads.

The danger comes from people. A few months ago, a colleague of mine was hit by a car. The 80-year-old driver was disabled, had 93 fines and was still driving. Instead of braking, he accelerated. He killed three dogs. He said "sorry, I didn't realize" and now he's driving again! Telling the owners was terrible.

Sometimes dogs fight, and if you try to separate them, they may bite you because they can't control themselves.

This scar is a bite mark, and here it's the trace of three teeth. An occupational hazard, as they say.

Are you involved in dog training?

Yes, it's like bringing up children. You have to scold them, sometimes yell at them... They obey me more than the owners. Those who are spoiled at home learn to obey here.

What are the characteristics of your dogs?

Every dog is different and reacts in a singular way... For example, today Hans got excited when he saw me and peed. He was happy to get out.

He's very feisty. When he doesn't like another dog, he goes underneath and bites his paws. He's been walking with me for 7 months

Akira, favorite. She was brought in from the country when she was a baby. She was scared, I'm sure she was treated badly.

He's a bit aggressive with other dogs, so I put a muzzle on him. If there's a Golden, he automatically wants to bite it. That's because I used to walk him with a dog of that breed who used to "ride" him. He was traumatized!

But not all dogs react in the same way. Some dogs, when they're "mounted", nothing happens. And there are others who don't like it at all.

Dixon is a sweetheart. She plays with everyone. She's very demonstrative. When she doesn't like something, it shows in her face.

And Pepi is very affectionate!

The neutered ones are the best, as they are the most playful and calmest.

My colleagues also have very expressive dogs.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH VERONICA

Argentina: at the forefront of animal rights

According to a survey, 30 % of owners consider their dog to be a member of the family.

"In my house, there are four of us: Mum, Dad, my sister and the dog," replied a five-year-old boy to the enumerator who asked him how many members his family had.

And a lady, in the same census, asked to be registered as a " multi-species family "We are two humans and four inhuman people: three dogs and a cat".

Source: El Clarin 21/05/2022.

Such a response is not surprising in a country as "on the cutting edge" and as passionate about animals as Argentina... And a little surreal! In 2015, Judge Liberatori recognized for the first time in the world an animal, the orangutan Sandra, as a "non-human person". An Argentine court granted Sandra habeas corpus, recognizing her as a "non-human person and sentient being". It ordered the Buenos Aires Zoo to release her and transfer her to the Center of Great Apes sanctuary in Florida.

You can read this fascinating story in elpais.com Sandra, the orangutan who became a person.06.23.2019

For Judge Liberatori, it would be interesting to include this question in the future census: "Just like identity, we can perceive ourselves as a multi-species family, which would make it possible to implement policies involving these sensitive beings that are our non-human companions"..

Source: El Clarin 21/05/2022.

The concept of the multi-species family originated in a judgment handed down by criminal judge Dr Castro in Rawson, in the province of Chubut (1,700 km from Buenos Aires), on June 10, 2021.

A policeman, in the exercise of his control duties, shot the local dog, named Titawith his service weapon, causing his death. The officer claims that the dog got out to threaten him and bit him on the leg. The judge sentenced the officer to a one-year suspended prison sentence, plus two years' disqualification for "abuse of authority and damage".

In the sentence, the magistrate states that "with the weapon described, Sergeant Saavedra has killed Tita, the non-human daughter of the couple formed by Mrs and Mr Castillo ". At all times, he emphasizes that Mr. Castillo has fulfilled the role of a true father to Tita.

Finally, the judge concluded that "Tita's death has caused an irreparable loss to her family, and the testimony of Mrs. and Mr. Castillo has shown that she has been able to live up to her family's expectations. Tita's integration into family lifetransforming it into a MULTI-SPECIES FAMILY" .

"The animal is no longer a thing, but a sentient being with the right to respect for its life.

Sergeant Saavedra stated that he had never meant to kill the dog and that he deeply regretted his action. "I'm not a dog-killer, I just wanted to defend myself. The Attorney General stressed that this "biocidio ( any act that involves the death of an animal for no reason, it is a biocidio, a crime against life") affected not only the Castillo family, but also the state and society as a whole.

Surprising country where I discover that in the midst of the countless problems of all kinds (poverty, insecurity, inflation, etc.) that the country faces, there is one area of law where it is at the forefront of progress worldwide and where "non-human people" are truly privileged.

Footnote: Sentience is a concept from the 2012 Cambridge Declaration that the neurobiological structures that make humans feel pain, sadness or happiness are the same as those that make animals feel pain, sadness or happiness.

I am convinced that the worldwide circulation of my column will encourage millions of "non-human dog people" around the world to migrate to Buenos Aires, where a paradisiacal life awaits them, integrated into loving families, with competent dog walkers, splendid recreational areas and a judicial protection unique in the world!

And what do the dogs think?

I couldn't end this column without asking the people involved if they're happy with their lives, especially now that I've realized they're non-human and sentient beings.

I gathered the dogs in the kennel and asked them the following questions:

Are they very happy? Three barks. Moderately happy? Two barks. Unhappy? One bark.

The results are as follows:

Three barks: 85 %.

Two barks: 7 %

A bark: 5 %

Zero barking: 3 %

I didn't know how to interpret the numerous four, five or more barks.

I still have a long way to go to understand my dog friends!

To conclude this column, I can only wish you :

A DOG'S LIFE... IN ARGENTINA!