Our Staff

Luis Baro

Luis began his career in the music industry in Chicago and later worked in Washington, DC, as a Program Director at SiriusXM Radio. He also consulted for Red Bull, where he worked on music strategy and cultural programming. In 2008, the pace of that world pushed him to step away and rethink his path. He took a job as a dog walker on the Upper West Side, which brought major changes to both his daily life and his health. Although he grew up with dogs, it was during this period that he fully understood how central they were to his well being. His dogs, Oliver and Suzy, helped shape that shift. In 2011, Luis founded Not The Rug in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he has lived since 2006. With over 15 years of hands on experience working with dogs, he remains focused on calm handling, consistency, and care built on trust.

Lincoln

Originally from South Louisiana, with roots in DownEast Maine, Lincoln grew up surrounded by animals. Dogs, miniature donkeys, and even emus were part of everyday life. If it had four legs or feathers, Lincoln likely helped care for it. Three years ago, she moved to Brooklyn with her three Southern pups. She brought her deep respect for animals with her. Her understanding of animal behavior, paired with a steady and generous approach, makes her a trusted presence on the team. Now a Williamsburg local, Lincoln feels lucky to do this work each day.

Marcus

Marcus has spent his life around animals. From growing up with pets to working as a dog trainer at Petco, he has developed a strong understanding of how animals communicate and respond. Each day offers a chance to learn and connect with the dogs in his care. Marcus is a theater kid, a video gamer, a curious thinker, and a devoted animal lover. Say hello when you see him out walking. He is always glad to meet pups and people.

Joseph

Say hello to Joseph! He has over 5 years of professional dog-walking experience and is a genuine animal lover. Joseph has his own dog named Ginger, who is almost 12 years old! When not walking dogs, he enjoys listening to music and watching old concert footage or movies.

Nina

Nina has been around dogs since infancy and has always felt at home with them. She treats every dog like family and proudly answers to the name Auntie Nina. When she is not out walking dogs, Nina might be holding an iced latte in any season, cooking at home, or reading. Born and raised in New Jersey, she knows the neighborhood and the dogs she works with extremely well. As one of Not The Rug’s longest serving team members, she has built strong relationships with both pups and clients.

Christian

Christian spent over six years working as a chef and later as a kitchen manager. That environment shaped his discipline, focus, and attention to detail. Over time, it also showed him that he wanted a different kind of daily work. With a long standing love for animals, Christian chose to change direction. That choice brought more balance into his life. He brings patience, care, and a steady presence to every walk. Each dog is treated with the same respect he would give his own.

Shawn

Shawn is newer to the team and approaches his work with care and precision. He is an artist, musician, and visual creator. Before joining Not The Rug, Shawn spent two years with another service where the approach to care felt less intentional. He has been a strong addition to the team and brings a calm, grounded presence to his walks. We are glad to have him.

Léa

Meet Léa (pronounced lay-uh). Léa has lived all over, including places such as Connecticut, Georgia, & Honduras. Léa moved back to New York after high school, and has been a dog walker for more than 5 years. She is Not The Rug’s most recent addition to the team, and has already built a special bond with all of her pups. Outside of Not The Rug, Léa is a freelance dog sitter in Sunset Park. She is currently going to school, studying environmental science and early childhood development. Léa has a mutt mix of her own named Miso that she loves dearly (mixture of lab, husky, & pitbull). Léa loves working with more challenging & special needs dogs.

Ivan

Meet Ivan! He’s the definition of an animal lover. Currently, he has an 11 year-old daschuand named Lucy, two fish tanks (including one 50 gallon tank), cats, and a Parrot named Casper. Ivan, a recent graduate of Brooklyn College, spends his time on the weekends traveling to PA to help his parents build a house from scratch. With over 3 years of professional animal experience, as well as a lifetime of personal experience, we are excited to have him with us!