On the hunt for a dog walker to fill a boring afternoon for your dog with sights, sounds, and other hounds?
Here are a few places to find that special someone who loves dogs enough to spend days on end with them on the streets of NYC:

girlwalkingdog.jpg-Check with your local dog park group for dog walker recommendations.
-Ask other dog owners that you meet on the street.
-Read the forums at Urbanhound to learn who may be reputable and who to avoid.
-Try Find A Dog Walker (a Seattle-based site that has listings for New York, Brooklyn, and other cities).
-Call your Veterinarian

And remember, you dog walker loves dogs. He or she is also trying to run a business. You should expect to trust the walker (who has the keys to your home), and the person should always put the safety of your dog first and foremost. You should also expect to pay for the private care your pet receives, whether your walker runs a one-person show or works for a national chain.

If all of this sounds too strange for you, maybe you and a few dog-friendly neighbors can trade pet watching duties. (Is anyone doing this in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn?)

(Drawing of girl walking dog by Melanie. Thanks, Melanie!)