Trouble finding a rescue

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grumpylilmoose

Forums Regular
I am having a hard time finding a rescue that would be willing to adopt to someone living in an apartment without a yard, they all state that a fenced in yard is mandatory.

Why is this such a common rule?

Would an indoor house hold really be that bad as long as the dog is properly exorcised?
 
That's strange. I always thought that rule applied to people who have yards, but they're just not fenced in. I never thought it would mean someone living in an apartment with no yard couldn't adopt.

Have you applied for a dog and they rejected you for that reason?

My dog has lived in an apartment half her life. She is also very energetic and I had no problem exercising her with multiple walks a day.
 
If you share with the director of a shelter the reasons why your household would be good, safe, OK with landlord (now and in future pet-friendly dwelling insistence), that you are happy to NEVER let the dog get back into the shelter system, and that your rescue could save another life, essentially make your case, you might get somewhere. Have you been formally rejected or just seen on their websites about the fenced yards? I have a hard time believing flatly "no apartment dwellers" -- look at the big cities where dogs ALL live in apartments. I would boldly make my case and go after the dog I desire.
 
I think a lot is rescue dependent, too.
The busier rescues are probably more flexible (like some of the ones in TX).
I have seen some sites where they specify that they would consider an apt for a dog (usually an older dog).

My dog was raised in an apt, second floor. He was from a breeder due to rescue restrictions (NoCal rescue is tiny..very few dogs). He loved the balcony. Now we have a small yard, but he really only hangs out on the patio (maybe same size as our old balcony) where he is close to the door and me in the living room. If I leave the living room, he comes in. If I close the door to the yard, he wants in. He loves to play fetch in his little yard, but he really just wants to be near me :D I think he misses his balcony, to be honest. He could see everything from up there and the yard has a huge privacy fence and he can't see anything.
 
Austin Sheltie Rescue let us adopt despite living in an apartment without a fenced yard. I think it was more important that we knew what we were getting into with a Sheltie/rescue, were responsible adults, had permission from the management company, etc. I think they draw the line at mobile homes at primary residences and certain dogs required a fenced yard, but it's been awhile since I read our application/contract. When we were looking I made sure they were okay with first time direct-owners (DH and I grew up with dogs, but never had one of our own) and apartment livers)

I believe they allow out of state adopters (we obviously lived much closer a year and a half ago) so it wouldn't hurt to email them and see.
http://sheltierescuetx.org/adopt.html
 
It can be hard, I spent a lot of time searching, just keep getting your name and number out to everyone in the sheltie world and something may network your way. I think Chauncey my boy would be content in an apartment , an rv or any place as long as he had a home and someone who loves him.
 
take4roll10 said:
That's strange. I always thought that rule applied to people who have yards, but they're just not fenced in. I never thought it would mean someone living in an apartment with no yard couldn't adopt.
Click to expand...

I find this odd - why would having a yard with no fence be treated any differently than living in an apartment with no yard? In both cases there is no secure outdoor spot for the dog and it has to go out with its owner to be safe.
The apartment dweller has to find an outdoor spot for the doggie to go, and the person without a fence does the same thing but perhaps a little closer to home.
If anything the edge should go to the home - as it is more likely that a fence or some form of dog run could be put up at some future time.
 
EJHUNTL said:
I find this odd - why would having a yard with no fence be treated any differently than living in an apartment with no yard? In both cases there is no secure outdoor spot for the dog and it has to go out with its owner to be safe.
The apartment dweller has to find an outdoor spot for the doggie to go, and the person without a fence does the same thing but perhaps a little closer to home.
If anything the edge should go to the home - as it is more likely that a fence or some form of dog run could be put up at some future time.
Click to expand...

I guess I just always assumed the reasoning was that rescues were worried that people with non-fenced in property would allow their dogs to go in their yards off leash. There's more of an incentive for people to do that, but hopefully a responsible owner would know better.

People in apartments don't usually have property like that, so they don't have that option. Again, this is just something I assumed whenever I read about rescues requiring yards. I have never went through the rescue process, so I'm probably wrong. I just assumed it was because of the risk of the dog running off because some rescues even require certain types of fencing.

So I guess it depends why the rescue requires the yard. Is it because of exercise or because they want to decrease the risk of the dog running off? If it's for exercise, it doesn't make much sense either because plenty of people have yards for their dogs, but they don't actually go out and do anything with the dogs. They just let them out to use the bathroom.
 
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And this is why I got my pup from a responsible breeder- no issues with me living in an apartment. That and many other reasons why I got him. BUT I would definitely call the place and see how stern they are to the no fence rule. It seems numerous rescues have this, but shelters don't usually.
 
I think rescues want a fence to prevent the dog running away - sometimes they deal with dogs who are expert escape artist. The fence rule makes sense, but the way I see it, if you are willing to trust that an apartment dweller will keep the dog on leash while outdoors then there's no reason to presume someone with a yard without a fence wouldn't exercise the same amount of caution.

That said they are the ones putting in the time and effort and money to rescue these dogs, so they get to set whatever rules they feel necessary and appropriate. It's just too bad that they may be passing up on some potentially good homes.
 
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