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If you frequent the dog run at Maria Hernandez Park, chances are you know Daniel Nogueira, the proprietor of the local dog care service Bushwick K9. Nogueira, (pronounced noh-gay-ruh) is tall with long dreadlocks and a beard and has the grounded, content demeanor of a veteran preschool teacher, which makes it abundantly obvious how he became Bushwick’s most trusted, beloved dog care professional.

A native of Brazil, Nogueira grew up playing with animals on his family farm. His family began breeding Dobermans when he was 10 and he became interested when an especially effective trainer started to work with their dogs. “This guy would come in, and all the dogs would just follow him everywhere and they would do everything he said at all times. That blew my mind, and I glued myself to the guy,” says Nogueira.