A dog walker from New York City went viral after revealing what it’s like to live a day in her life, and internet users think she’s living “the dream.”
In a viral video shared on Instagram in October under the username @__sarahkerr, the 25-year-old dog walker shared details of a typical day working a nine-hour shift in the Big Apple, starting with an early alarm clock at 6:30 a.m.
“I was out the door by 7:30, took the train in, got my keys and started with Eli and Stephen at 8:30. Took them with me to get Thor, he always gives me my morning hug, I love it!” she says in the clip.
“At 8:45 a.m. took a little group photo, got some water and a snack, then I had Stanley for half an hour by himself, than I had Raffles by himself for an hour, so we went down to the water since it was a nice day and looked at the boats, he also looked at the geese.”
She picked up 10 more dogs throughout the day, all from different locations across the city, some for half an hour, some for more, and some, like Thor, multiple times. She then walked them around town, gave them all kisses, took pictures for their owners, and hang out with them until the end of her shift, with her last pup pick up at 4:40 p.m.
“Another little day in the life of being a NYC dog walker—9-hour shift today and everyone is wearing their new fall sweaters,” the caption says.
The poster, Sarah Kerr, told Newsweek that she started dog walking straight out of college to make ends meet in the city, and she’s loved her job ever since.
“I joined a small company, and it has been one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. I grew up on a farm and working with and around animals helping them live the best possible lives is and always will be something that fulfills me,” she said.
“It’s nice to be active, interact with animals, and provide a service that is very niche, but helpful. It’s similar to babysitting. The dog is able to get special attention, socialize with other dogs, and use the bathroom when needed.”
The dog walking industry in America is a multi-billion-dollar sector, valued around $1.3 billion, driven by rising dog ownership, increased pet spending, and owners seeking time-saving services.
As of January 2026, the average hourly wage of a dog walker across the country is around $21.65, according to employment platform Indeed, with lows of $13.79, and highs of $33.99, varying by state.
While walking pups in the city does sound like a dream job, it also comes with significant responsibilities. Dog walkers are responsible for ensuring the safety and comfort of the pups at all times while under their supervision.
They are also responsible for ensuring that the dogs get enough exercise, that they’re kept hydrated, and clean, and that they are not overwhelmed by the activity. And among all the other duties of the job, they are also expected to clean up after the pups, just like their owners would.
The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received over 2.4 million views and 155,000 likes on the platform.
One user, Eleysemarin, commented: “I love that Thor goes for three walks, always starting with a hug. He clearly loves you!”
Shanangins_ said: “OK, so basically you’re living the dream you’ve made it in life.”
Alice_patricia_schow wrote: “Fascinating! I admire how you [manage] the logistics of timing and where you need to geographically be at a given time!”
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