Buenos Aires - Anyone out walking in a Buenos Aires park is bound to notice large packs of dogs numbering 10 or even 20 animals whose leads are held by a lone man or woman - an often stressed-looking "paseaperros."

Owning a dog in Buenos Aires is chic and the bigger the animal, the better. But taking the doggies out for long walks is not quite so popular.

So "paseaperros" or dog-walkers take to the streets with their barking hounds to save wealthy portenos - as the residents of Buenos Aires are known - the bother.

Buenos Aires boasts around 200 registered dog-walkers, and the activity is a popular side-job among young people and students, says Alberto Termine, a representative of the city's Environment Ministry.

The real figure is likely to be far higher, perhaps around 1,000.

Termine explains that "most of the dog walkers are not registered" as registered walkers are only allowed to take out up to eight dogs at a time. Most of the "paseaperros" walk far more animals in a bid to earn more cash.

The dogs often leave "little souvenirs" as they wander about although the law stipulates that it has to be cleaned up and disposed of properly.

"But many 'paseaperros' do not respect it, and most dog owners don't either," Termine complains.

In theory, if anyone's dog is caught leaving excrement on the street, the carer faces a fine of up to 200 pesos (65 dollars).

And yet nobody has ever seen a police officer impose a fine while everyone remembers lots of angry, swearing passers-by trying to wipe the soles of their shoes on the edge of the pavement.

Just eight dog-inspectors patrol the streets to ensure that the law is not broken. They face a mammoth task in a metropolis boasting 13 million inhabitants and an estimated 500,000 dogs. Moreover, the inspectors are often called in to deal with the many stray dogs who sometimes attack people.

"When our people arrive, the wild dogs have often disappeared again," Termine says, shrugging his shoulders.

But he notes that this is hardly the city government's business.

Gloria Mirta, of the Argentine organization for animal protection (MAPA) - a private association of veterinarians thinks this is unlikely.

"The government does not give a damn about the stray dogs, and they also do not have the money," she noted.

MAPA estimates that around 10,000 dogs and about as many cats roam the city's streets and rooftops, feeding on garbage.

However, when a cat infected a young man with rabies in April, the government did react and launched a vaccination campaign. Rabies is quite common in large parts of Argentina, especially the northern province of Salta, where it was spread by bats, according to Mirta.

The vaccination campaign must have shaken the "paseaperros" somewhat. Trying to keep a yapping dog under control is hardly easy under normal circumstances, even without the worry of rabies.

Many dog-walkers wear headphones to dull the constant barking and their charges still leave their mark on pavements in Buenos Aires. (dpa)