Working Shift: Professional Dog Walker

By Morning Shift
Jesus “J.J.” Perez, dog walker and loving it for Urban Tailz.
Jesus “J.J.” Perez, dog walker and loving it for Urban Tailz. Jason Marck / WBEZ
Jesus “J.J.” Perez, dog walker and loving it for Urban Tailz.
Jesus “J.J.” Perez, dog walker and loving it for Urban Tailz. Jason Marck / WBEZ

Working Shift: Professional Dog Walker

By Morning Shift
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For the latest installment in our Working Shift series, we chat with a professional dog walker. After six years of drudgery as a debt collector, Jesus Perez started walking dogs with Urban Tailz.

What started as a part-time gig has since turned into a full-time job. Jesus handles anywhere from nine to 15 dogs a day and is surprised that he’s actually making a living doing what he loves.