New York City is known for its stark class inequality, with some residents living in luxury high-rises while others struggle to make ends meet. The New York Times recently highlighted one way that people are able to get a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous: dog-sitting.
In a tweet posted on June 9th, 2021, The New York Times wrote: “In a city of yawning class inequality, some side hustles let you glimpse how the other half lives. What is it like to dog-sit for the corgis and miniature pinschers and King Charleses of New York City’s rich?” The article linked in the tweet explores the experiences of several individuals who have turned dog-sitting into a lucrative side hustle.
For many people in New York City, taking care of someone else’s pets can be an appealing way to earn extra money. Dog-sitters can charge anywhere from $50 to $100 per night, depending on the breed and location. Some sitters even offer additional services such as grooming or training.
But beyond just earning money, dog-sitting can also provide a window into how wealthy New Yorkers live their lives. Sitters may find themselves caring for dogs in multi-million dollar penthouses or accompanying them on private jets to exotic locations.
One sitter interviewed by The New York Times described her experience caring for a pair of French bulldogs belonging to a Wall Street executive. She was tasked with taking them for walks around Central Park and giving them plenty of attention throughout the day. In return, she received free reign over the executive’s fully-stocked fridge and access to his state-of-the-art home gym.
However, not all experiences are so glamorous. Other sitters reported dealing with difficult or demanding clients who expected them to be available at all hours of the day or who were overly particular about their pet’s care routine.
The rise of dog-sitting as a side hustle is just one example of the creative ways that people are finding to make ends meet in a city with such extreme class inequality. For many New Yorkers, holding down multiple jobs or taking on freelance work has become a necessity in order to afford basic necessities like housing and healthcare.
This trend is not unique to New York City, however. Across the country, workers are increasingly turning to gig economy jobs like ride-sharing or food delivery in order to supplement their income. While these jobs offer flexibility and autonomy, they often lack benefits and protections afforded by traditional employment.
Furthermore, the gig economy can exacerbate existing inequalities by disproportionately impacting marginalized communities who may have limited access to traditional job opportunities or who face discrimination when seeking employment.
In recent years, there has been growing debate about how best to address these issues. Some advocates argue for stronger worker protections and benefits regardless of employment status, while others advocate for broader structural changes such as universal basic income or a shorter workweek.
As more people turn to alternative forms of income generation like dog-sitting, it remains unclear what long-term impact this will have on the labor market and society as a whole. However, one thing is clear: with growing economic inequality comes growing creativity in finding ways to survive in an ever-changing world of work.