Walking dogs lucrative job

Dog walkers can walk away with a lot of money.

Annie Lever walks a trail in the Hollywood Hills surrounded by three Labrador retrievers, a golden retriever, a Gordon setter, a pit-bull mix and a Maltese. “Are they all yours?” another hiker wondered. Yes and no.

According to an article in the LA Times, Lever, 46, is a professional dog walker who earns $150,000 a year. Granted, most dog walkers don’t do as well as Lever’s clients who include Hollywood moguls such as Steven Spielberg and have included movie stars such as Reese Witherspoon.

The job of dog walker has been described as a combination kindergarten teacher, drill instructor and chauffer. “It’s like being the mother of 10 two-year olds,” said one walker.

Although Lever happily dispenses trendy treats such as raw chicken hearts upon request, she rolls her eyes at the owners who serve their pets bottled water. After all, she says, “dogs lick their own” bottoms.