Wonderful news - congratulations!!!

For others: we got our doggie through Rescue Angels, while we were living in an apt. Didn't have to go through so much of the nonsense we hear about with other groups. They made it very easy for us.

OP again. I just wanted to let you all know that after nearing the end of my patience with this, having said very little to anyone to anyone during this whole time, I got an email yesterday that we were approved for a dog who will be joining our family soon! Yay! I feel a little silly that I got so worried right before everything worked out. I appreciate all the advice, and have passed it along to a friend who's in a similar situation (she's going to a Lost Dog & Cat Rescue same-day adoption event this weekend).

In case anyone else comes across this topic and it's relevant for them, the dog that is becoming part of our family came from a small network of fosters, rather than a rescue or a shelter. We were able to talk pretty extensively with her foster mom and spend some time with the dog in her foster home the same day we applied. Although I don't know for sure, I suspect this is part of why this arrangement worked out better than the other avenues with tried, since we could explain our lifestyle better in person than we could possibly convey on an application form. So, in addition to the recommendations already made, a network that has only a few dogs and decides every placement on a case-by-case basis might be another possible option.

Thanks, everyone!

OP, 9:34 here. I was just at the dog park and met a woman who just adopted a dog from Lucky Dog and she lives in an apartment. The dog was flown in from a high kill shelter in Puerto Rico. I had no idea that they had expanded where they were getting their dogs from. It used to be that they rescued mostly from high kill shelters in the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia. Sorry, I digress.

Anyway, I just thought I would tell you that they don't seem to have issues with living in an apartment if you have the time/energy/inclination to give the dog lots of exercise.

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried Homeward Trails?

This would be the wrong place. They are possibly the pickiest about finding the absolute perfect flawless home situation.

PP here: I should mention we took our dog home the day we met her at an adoption event. (I was very surprised by this.) Unless they have changed their policies, that would help you avoid someone else snatching the dog from you.

We got our pup from Lost Dog Rescue (https://lostdogrescue.org/). They have adoption events in both MD and VA. We found the adoption process very easy.

The first two years we had our dog, we lived in an apartment townhouse, so no yard. Our dog is very high energy, so this involved us taking her on lots and lots of walks around the neighborhood and frequent trips to the dog park. (Which it sounds like you would be fine with.) Now we have a house with a fenced yard; much much better for the pup, and easier for us.

If you're going to be in an apt. for a long time, be sure to get a dog well suited to it. My sister has a poodle mix who is a perfect apt dog.

I second Homeward Trails.

Pet Harbor (husky rescue)
http://www.petharbor.org/availdogs.shtml

Beagle Rescue of Southern MD (not actually located in Southern MD) let us rescue when we lived in a condo--though we were owners. I don't think they asked us one way or the other, though.

Have you tried Homeward Trails?

OP here. Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely check those places out.

We have a house but we know lots of people at the dog park that adopted from various rescues that live in apartments. Try Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. We adopted from there and one of my dog's doggy buddies was also a Lucky Dog and he lives in an apartment. In fact, this dog was a "failed foster" that is, the folks that were fostering him thought he was such a great dog that they adopted him.

The one caveat is that I don't know if these people own or rent their place. I suspect that they rent but I don't know that for sure.

midatlanticpugrescue.com

We adopted a dog from NOVA SPCA and live in an apartment. We were chosen over a couple other applicants.

Has anyone had a good experience adopting a rescue dog while living in an apartment you rent? There are lots of pets in my building, but I assume they all must have been purchased as puppies, since my husband and I have been trying to adopt for months with no luck. Some rescues tell you right off the bat that they do not home dogs with renters or in apartments. I don't mind them having that policy when they are open about it, since it just keeps us from wasting our time working with them. However, there were several organizations where we got pretty far along in the process and they seemed to really like us, and even helped us find a dog that would be happy living in an apartment (we have a decent amount of space and are very active- the dog would have tons of walks, runs if it wanted, and time at the dog park), but then someone who owned their home or had a house with a fenced back yard expressed interest in the same dog, they would get the dog instead. I know they need to know what's best for the dog but it was really heartbreaking for us- we definitely had started thinking of one of these animals as our dog, since the rescue talked about her that way, too. I know we can't have a large dog or a dog that needs a yard, but not all dogs do. Ironically, they places that would be willing to give us a dog are the most desperate shelters, which are full of large, active dogs who would get very anxious in our apartment. It makes no sense to me at all.

I have to think that the way housing prices are in DC, there have got to be other people in our situation (high HHI, renting but intending to stay here as long as possible, so renting isn't an indication of not being able to afford a dog or of being transient). Has anyone adopted a dog while living in a rental apartment? Did you encounter any challenges with getting a dog from a rescue?