Moose and Lally and I are on the brink of a great adventure. We’re planning a move from the east coast (New Jersey to be exact) to the west coast (somewhere in the Portland metro area). We’d like it to happen some time this spring.
And that’s where things got difficult.
As if searching long-distance for a place to live wasn’t hard enough, I have the pups to consider. And there’s no way I’m leaving them behind! Lally is a boxer/shar-pei mix, weighing in at around 55 pounds. Moose is a German shepherd mix, way overweight at 105 pounds. We move as a trio, or not at all. (Hopefully it’ll be the former, and not the latter.)
I’ve spent a good part of the last two weeks researching, emailing, and calling people about their rentals. So far I’ve found two possibilities — one is an apartment complex that is incredibly dog-friendly. They have two on-site dog runs, fenced in so the pups can play off-leash. The other is a house with a fenced yard. Alas, both are slightly out of my “comfortable” rent range. So they’re on the list, but I’m still looking for something with a lower monthly rent.
I have to confess — it can be very discouraging to sit down with a list of apartment complexes and private renters to call and have NONE of them be willing to rent to me and my “large” dogs. Some places have breed restrictions, and won’t allow breeds or mixes that are considered “dangerous”. What breeds are considered dangerous? That can vary from one property to another. Some single out pit bulls, others have long lists of unwelcome breeds — including German shepherds, much to my dismay.
Ideally, I would love to find a place with a fenced yard, on the first floor (I worry about Moose’s joints and the potential for hip dysplasia). Is it weird that most of my preferences are more for the dogs than for me? Sure, Aimee would love things like hardwood floors, a fireplace, a fitness center onsite, and lots of community activities… but as long as my pups can be with me, everything else is unimportant.