Pet-Friendly Buenos Aires: Living with Dogs and Cats as a British Expat

The first thing that shocks British dog owners about Buenos Aires is the paseadores. These are professional dog walkers who stride through the streets with 10-15 dogs of various sizes, all on leads, all somehow not tangled, moving like a single organism through traffic. It is chaotic and beautiful and uniquely Argentine.

The second thing is the parks. Dogs are off-lead in almost every park. There are no park wardens with fine books. There is no "dogs on leads" signage. Dogs run, play, socialise, and their owners drink mate on the grass. For a British dog owner used to the Commons "dogs must be on leads at all times" signs, it is liberating.

Finding a pet-friendly apartment

Most Buenos Aires apartments allow pets. Unlike London, where "no pets" is the default, Buenos Aires landlords generally accept dogs and cats unless the building's reglamento de copropiedad (building rules) specifically prohibits them.

Check before signing:

• Ask the inmobiliaria (real estate agent) if the building allows pets
• Check the building's reglamento for pet restrictions (breed, size, number limits)
• Some buildings have a "no pets in common areas" rule (lifts, hallways) which means carrying small dogs or using the service lift

Deposits: some landlords charge a pet deposit (1 month's rent extra). Most do not.

The paseador system

Paseadores are licensed professional dog walkers. They collect dogs from apartments in the morning, walk them for 1-2 hours in nearby parks, and return them. A typical paseador handles 10-15 dogs per walk, visiting multiple buildings.

Cost: ARS 20,000-40,000/month (£13-26) for daily walks. By London dog-walker standards (£15-25 per walk), this is astonishingly cheap.

How to find one: ask your portero. Building porteros know every paseador working the neighbourhood. Alternatively, ask at your local vet or in expat pet groups.

Quality: most paseadores are experienced and genuinely love dogs. Watch how they handle the pack. A good paseador maintains control without shouting and brings your dog home tired and happy.

Vet care

Argentine veterinary care is excellent and affordable:

• Check-up: ARS 10,000-20,000 (£6-13)
• Vaccinations: ARS 8,000-15,000 per vaccine
• Neutering: ARS 30,000-60,000 (£20-40)
• Dental cleaning: ARS 40,000-80,000
• Emergency visit: ARS 20,000-50,000

Many vets in Palermo and Belgrano speak English. The British expat community has strong vet recommendations via WhatsApp groups.

24-hour emergency vets:

• Hospital Veterinario del Sur (Caseros)
• Centro Veterinario Dr. Pellegrini (Palermo)
• Hospital Escuela FCV-UBA (Agronomía, the university veterinary hospital)

Dog parks and exercise

Every neighbourhood has parks where dogs run free. The best for dogs:

• Bosques de Palermo: the biggest. Dogs everywhere, off-lead. Social dogs thrive here.
• Parque Centenario: locals' favourite. Less crowded than Palermo.
• Barrancas de Belgrano: hilly, good for energetic breeds.
• Parque Las Heras: small but well-used by Palermo dogs.
• Costanera Sur: long riverside walks. Good for dogs who like water.

Etiquette: pick up after your dog (bolsitas/bags from the vet or kiosko). Most dog owners do. Some do not. It is improving.

Cats

Buenos Aires is also cat-friendly but the culture is less visible:

• Indoor cats are the norm for expat-owned cats
• Vet care is identical in quality and cost to dogs
• Cat cafes exist in Palermo (Café de los Gatos is the best known)
• Cat-sitters are available through pet-sitting apps (DogHero, PetHero)

Bringing pets from the UK

Moving pets from the UK to Argentina is straightforward but requires advance planning. You need an APHA export health certificate, proof of rabies vaccination (though the UK is rabies-free, Argentina requires it), and advance notification to Argentine customs (SENASA). The process takes about 21 days to arrange, and Argentine customs processes pet imports the same day on arrival. No quarantine is required for pets from the UK.

Worth reading next

• Buenos Aires Parks and Green Spaces
• First Week Buenos Aires Checklist
• Electricity, Gas and Water Guide