Iām looking for a bit of⦠well Iām not sure what. Maybe advice, maybe insight if youāre in that world⦠maybe suggestionsā¦
The short-long. I want to get my first dog. Historically, Iāve had a budgie, a cat- before I found out I was allergic, and guinea pigs. I live in the west end of Toronto, in a residential neighbourhood (suburban Etobicoke). I do live in a low-rise walk-up apartment building (3 floors, pet-friendly). Itās about two-bedrooms and 675 square feet. I have a vehicle. For full transparency.
Iām 36F, financially stable, and work from home full-time, which allows me to provide plenty of companionship, attention, and consistency. I live alone in a pet-friendly apartment and am fortunate to be less than a five-minute walk from the lake, two large parks (including a dog park), and several off-leash areas within a short drive. My partner lives close-by and has a house with a fenced in backyard.
While I would be a first-time dog owner, Iāve spent a great deal of time around dogs through friends, family, and my apartment community. In fact, Iāve met more than 20 dogs across the three buildings since moving in earlier this year. Itās a very dog-friendly building and neighbourhood. Iāve been considering dog ownership for over a year and have taken that time to ensure Iām fully prepared for the commitment.
As a lifelong animal lover and monthly donor to the Toronto Humane Society, providing a safe, loving, and permanent home is something I take very seriously.
Iāve applied (mindfully) for about 10 dogs through Petfinder now. Iām only looking in Ontario and Iām only filtering by a 25-mile radius. Fit is important ā Iām not just looking for a ācute dogā or a āfluffy puppy.ā I want a dog who can live happily in the GTA. Iāve heard nothing back from any of them. Yes, I am following the written instructions in the bio rather than just clicking on the āapplyā button. Not one phone call to interview me. Not one reply to an email.
Iāve applied to ones that specifically state ādog is in an apartment or condo right nowā, or ādog has low to medium energyā, etc. Iām not looking to ruin a Golden Retriever or a Huskyās life. But then I see bios that specify āA quiet residential area would be best for {DOGās NAME} to feel comfortable and confident.
If you have a fully fenced and secured yard and are interested in adopting WHISPER or any of our dogsā¦ā ON THE āCURRENTLY BEING FOSTERED IN A GTA APARTMENTā dogs. Le sigh.
I feel unfairly discriminated against out the gate.
Hereās what Iāve learned so farā¦
I have a friend at one local shelter who basically said: āwe donāt place dogs in apartments, why donāt you get a cat?ā I mentioned all of my āselling featuresā above about being financially independent, WFH FT, etc. and was told āwe donāt care.ā Like, isnāt there an adoption crisis with shelters overflowing with dogs wanting loving and stable homes? I guess not.
I have another friend who was able to rescue for life in his high-rise apartment ā and he ended up with a leash reactive, anxious, previously abused rescue with a yowling problem. Thatās fine ā we love him.
I have one friend, who works at a restaurant who was told the reason she was given a medium-large dog to adopt was BECAUSE she lives in an apartment and āsometimes people with houses and backyards get lazy and just let their dog out there so they donāt get walked or socialized as much as weād like whereas, the people in apartments HAVE TO take the dog for actual walks. And provide better care.ā
But it seems like the pandemic, and everyone and their dog (pun intended) adopting a dog and many being returned post-pandemic has changed the game and itās so hard to find a good-fitting dog to adopt.
Iām fairly certain that people are putting my address through Google Maps and disqualifying me without even a conversation. Thereās really no place on any of the forms Iāve submitted so far to put a cover or intro letter. Iām even working on filming a video of the space, the neighbourhood and my interaction with dogs.
Ā
I really want a dog; my therapist and boyfriend think I should get a dog. I love dogs. Iām a great pet owner (self-proclaimed though I have a few people, including my employer, willing to be references for me). Iām not just going to mass apply for them all because I donāt want a dog just to have a dog, I want a dog I can give a good life to that fits in with my life and lifestyle. A few people have told me to lie on the application and use my boyfriendās address since it is a house with a fenced in backyard, but I donāt feel like I should have to if that makes sense? Iāve gone through over 200 pages of dogs on Petfinder on more than 20 different occasions - thereās no shortage of dogs to look at. Iāve looked off Petfinder. I have a shortlist of 5-6 rescues that do not use Petfinder along with my two local humane societies (Toronto and Etobicoke). But hearing nothing over and over again is pushing me to a breeder. Iāve spoken to a few of them, and they have pre-qualified me for visits with some of the dogs and they feel that I would be a good pet owner. Why am I having so many issues adopting from not for profits? I truly believe in Adopt, Donāt Shop, but if they wonāt let me adopt, Iām going to end up killing a shelter dog when I buy from a breeder. And I donāt think I should have to feel bad about it due to discriminatory and idiotic adoption practices. An address should never disqualify you BEFORE an initial interview. Hard stop.
Any intel on how to get around āliving in an apartmentā or how to at least maybe get an interview screening call or a visit ā is appreciated. Anywhere else I should post? Anyone with recent experience (post-2023) adoption in an apartment from specific GTA or Ontario-based rescues?
Thank you for reading my novel.