Tacos, Teamwork, and Talking About Poop

Two weeks ago we had a taco Tuesday on the books. But then the crosswalks became abstract ice art and the roads were a hot mess due to the City's questionable plowing (errrr.... not plowing?) We canceled tacos. (No one needed to be out after dark sliding home from a taco joint.)

So we rescheduled. And last night, we showed up to our favorite spot - Palenque on 9th and Washington.

Three hours. Lots of tacos. Fresh nachos and guac. A few beers. A lot of laughter. And stories that only professional dog walkers would find normal dinner conversation.

There is something special about getting our crew in one place. We're often like passing ships in the night. (There has to be an analogy for dogs.) We share sidewalks and clients. We share crappy weather. We share last minute key fob mysteries or missing front desk concierges. But we do not always get to sit down together. (And we missed the Minders who could not make it!)

The Minders finally got their New Year taco night after the storm delay.

At some point, about twenty minutes we realized we were swapping poop stories while actively eating tacos. No one thought it was strange. (Julie joked about how desensitized we are to anything related to fecal matter.) We are fairly certain we are the only group of people in Philadelphia who would do so while inhaling guacamole.

This winter has tested us. And yet our Minders keep showing up. They show up for senior dogs who need guidance over icy patches. They show up for high energy puppies who need an outlet. They show up in snow boots and reflective jackets and still somehow manage to send thoughtful visit reports and the best walk photos!

Last night was a small way to say thank you to the best dang dog walkers in Philly.

If you are one of our clients reading this, know this: The people walking your dogs are not gig workers passing through. They are a crew. And occasionally, they eat tacos and talk about your dog's poop like it is a competitive sport.

We love our team. We are forever proud of them. And we are grateful that even in a city that sometimes feels like one big construction zone covered in slush, we get to do this work together.