The Airbnb experience walking dogs from a shelter in Los Angeles

“Women of any heat stage are not permitted in the park,” reads the sign at the entrance to Runyon Canyon in West Hollywood. That could be a problem. It’s a sunny morning in the United States, we have a 3.5 km hike up to 400 m ahead of us, and most of us are women.

There’s also the possibility of spotting a shirtless Matthew McConaughey among the fitness freaks running past us in tacky lycra, their inspirational tattoos twisted into rippling muscles. Overheating is clearly on the cards.

Luckily, explains Candy, the rule only applies to dogs. Dogs are the reason we’re here: we’ve signed up for an Airbnb Experience that will allow us to spend two happy hours with shelter dogs, taking them for a walk in one of the few places in downtown Los Angeles where they are allowed to be off leash.

Candy is a member of Free Animal Doctor, a non-profit organization originally created to help people pay for veterinary care for their pets. Before long, they were working with animal shelters, helping give dogs a better chance at adoption.

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Being walked, spending time with a succession of friendly strangers, allows dogs to overcome the nervousness and shyness that can cause them to stay in shelters and be overlooked by potential adopters.

Today, Candy brought us four dogs to walk. Lulu the Labrador belongs to him, but Ernie the Chihuahua and Joey the Italian Greyhound cross are both up for adoption. Sweetie, a quivering ball of Jack Russell energy is, Candy freely admits, “a foster failure” – meaning she loves him so much she can’t let go, and Sweetie will join the pack of dogs. already big enough Candy at home.

We met at the entrance to Runyon Canyon, a few blocks from Hollywood Boulevard. It’s a 65-hectare park with a checkered history that includes Irish tenor architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the “gentleman bandit” Vasquez who inspired Zorro, and Errol Flynn, who is said to have thrown crazy pool parties. mansion pool that once stood here.

Today, few buildings remain: apart from the paved fire road that crosses the canyon, everything seems natural. It is prime real estate and has been threatened with development on several occasions; but local residents are fierce in their protection of a unique and valuable asset, and currently it is in the custody of a public trust.

There are trees, grass and stands of cacti; I can hear birds as well as sirens back in the city. The sign also clearly states that there are coyotes and rattlesnakes in the park, although Candy has never seen any, deer being more common.

Turns out, these are the waffles we’re most aware of. The ground is riddled with their holes, much to Honey’s frustration as she is pulled past them. After a brief introduction, we set off along the road into the canyon, our leisurely pace making the dogs impatient as we climb the slope. All around, other dogs leap freely, of all breeds, sizes and, apart from a few ritual barks, all friendly.

So do their owners, though the varied types focused on their Fitbits and energized by motivational podcasts barely notice us as they climb the hill. Even on a Wednesday morning the park is busy and we try to keep an eye out for celebrities but the dogs are too much of a nuisance. “I’ve seen Justin Bieber, but with caps and sunglasses it’s hard to spot the stars,” Candy says.

At the top of the canyon, an impressive mansion stands against the sky. “Where do you think this guy gets his money from?” Candy asks. “Drugs”, someone guesses, and she’s right. “Marijuana is legal here now, but you can’t put the money in a federal bank, so you have to turn it into property. The central party up there.

At the top of the hill, we have a long view of a green valley where huge mansions sit in the trees along Mulholland Drive, to the Hollywood sign on the other side. Finally, at the Inspiration Point lookout on a foggy town, we left the dogs off leash, and they ran away in excitement, Honey disappearing in a jet of dirt as she madly dug into a gopher hole.

After carefully descending a confusing staircase of railroad ties and back down into the canyon, we arrive at our starting point too soon. Honey has been retrieved from the depths of a gopher hole, the others are on a leash again, and it’s time to say goodbye to our dog friends. The weather was great, everyone had fun – and we women barely broke a sweat.

More information:

The two-hour experience costs from $72 per person, depending on what time you walk. To book, go to airbnb.co.nz/experiences/82265

Stay safe: Check safetravel.govt.nz before you travel to keep up to date with the latest travel advisories.