AP PHOTOS: As more Argentines go childless, pampered dogs become part of the family
Magalí Maisonnave poses for a photo with her six-year-old dachshund Sandro, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — As more Argentines choose not to have children, dogs have become their companions of choice, reshaping Buenos Aires with a growing number of pet hotels, boutiques, cafes and even cemeteries designed for canines treated like family.
Victoria Font, center left, sings happy birthday to her dog Venus, during a celebration with her sister and friends at Barto Cafe, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Victoria Font, center left, sings happy birthday to her dog Venus, during a celebration with her sister and friends at Barto Cafe, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Petrona licks her lips in front of her meat-flavored cake during her third birthday celebration at a park in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Petrona licks her lips in front of her meat-flavored cake during her third birthday celebration at a park in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Carolina Morales holds her four-month-old son Benjamin as her husband Alejandro Tirachini holds the family pet Thay, whom they consider their first son, while they pose for a photo backdropped by a painting of Thay by artist Lisandro Guma, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Carolina Morales holds her four-month-old son Benjamin as her husband Alejandro Tirachini holds the family pet Thay, whom they consider their first son, while they pose for a photo backdropped by a painting of Thay by artist Lisandro Guma, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Owner Monica Ocando styles the coat of nine-year-old India, at her Guau Experience pet grooming salon, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Owner Monica Ocando styles the coat of nine-year-old India, at her Guau Experience pet grooming salon, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Dogs sit inside Leon Sipes bus as he transports them back home after driving them from the square where they exercise and play, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Dogs sit inside Leon Sipes bus as he transports them back home after driving them from the square where they exercise and play, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Two-year-old Tita is fed a cookie at Barto Cafe, a bakery that specializes in cakes for canines, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Two-year-old Tita is fed a cookie at Barto Cafe, a bakery that specializes in cakes for canines, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Leon Sipes transports dogs back home on his bus after driving them to a square where they exercise and play, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Leon Sipes transports dogs back home on his bus after driving them to a square where they exercise and play, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Thay stands on his hind legs at the cookie counter in Chumbis, an artisanal bakery for animals, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Thay stands on his hind legs at the cookie counter in Chumbis, an artisanal bakery for animals, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Co-owner Rocio Dominguez offers a treat to Tony, one of her regulars, at Chumbis, an artisanal bakery for animals, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Co-owner Rocio Dominguez offers a treat to Tony, one of her regulars, at Chumbis, an artisanal bakery for animals, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Rocky stands leashed beside his owner at Barto Café, a bakery for humans and their pets that also offer birthday party services for dogs, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Rocky stands leashed beside his owner at Barto Café, a bakery for humans and their pets that also offer birthday party services for dogs, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Oscar and his dog Nana arrive on a bike to the Cathedral for a Mass honoring the late Pope Francis, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Oscar and his dog Nana arrive on a bike to the Cathedral for a Mass honoring the late Pope Francis, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Nadia Onischuk, left, shows the tattoo on her arm depicting her dog Mora, as Nicole Verdier shows her tattoo of her late dog Tadeo, at Chumbis, an artisanal bakery for animals, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Nadia Onischuk, left, shows the tattoo on her arm depicting her dog Mora, as Nicole Verdier shows her tattoo of her late dog Tadeo, at Chumbis, an artisanal bakery for animals, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Magalí Maisonnave poses for a photo with her six-year-old dachshund Sandro, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Magalí Maisonnave poses for a photo with her six-year-old dachshund Sandro, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Boca Juniors fan Juan Gutierres, accompanied by his seven-year-old dog Rocco, stands outside watching a televised soccer match airing inside a restaurant, in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Boca Juniors fan Juan Gutierres, accompanied by his seven-year-old dog Rocco, stands outside watching a televised soccer match airing inside a restaurant, in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Georgina Oliva pets Sol, one of her four dogs, as her partner Carlos Sosa nuzzles with Tinchi, another one of their dogs, as they beg for money in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Georgina Oliva pets Sol, one of her four dogs, as her partner Carlos Sosa nuzzles with Tinchi, another one of their dogs, as they beg for money in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Potted plants and a dog bowl adorn Milo’s grave at the Gardens of the Soul pet cemetery, inside an animal shelter on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Potted plants and a dog bowl adorn Milo’s grave at the Gardens of the Soul pet cemetery, inside an animal shelter on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)