He will pick one or two persons he really chooses to bond with and not be as happy when he can't be with them. Dogs are usually homebodies and love the sameness of their home "nest" or pack situation, don't really care for many changes of their schedule w/out getting pretty anxious and unstable. Some of the residents will train him to do one thing, others another - he won't be able to count on any "approved' behavior much. And, oh, the housebreaking situation can be rough under these circumstances. And there's the fact that doggies love to count on their favorite person being there for them when it's time to settle down for the night. This sounds like a disaster for a dog - like having a communal child - with dozens of leaders or parents!

Emmy will be available for play and romps in an interior dog park, but she won’t be allowed to leave the building with any tenant:


It sounds like Emmy will live with the manager and tenants will be able to borrow the dog to play for a bit in the indoor dog park.
Not where they can take her and have her live with them for a few days.

That's my understanding as well. It equates more to dog-sitting than actual split ownership.

It is honestly a different story they posted on there app that's weird.

This is what the app says!


By Jennifer van der Kleut
April 1 - WJLA
WASHINGTON (WJLA) - Ever wanted to own a dog, but don't want all the hassle that goes along with it?
One apartment complex in D.C. has come with an interesting solution - by offering a communal dog.
Owners of the "2M" Apartments in the NoMa district said they plan to offer a shared dog for residents to take turns enjoying.
According to reports by the DCist and the Washington Post, the English bulldog named Emmy - a nod to the building's double-M name - can be "checked out" in the lobby, "as one would a library book, DVD or bowling shoes."
The tenant can then take Emmy to their unit to spend time with her, take her for a walk or enjoy other activities with her, and then return her.
Emmy is reportedly being offered a cushy life at 2M, with plenty of food and toys and a large doghouse that is a replica of the 2M apartment building.
According to DCist and the Post, the owners of the 2M Apartments, located at 2 M St. in Northeast, came up with the idea as a way to attract more tenants, since competition is stiff among so many complexes in the neighborhood.
The 2M apartments will open later this year, and preleasing is expected to start this summer.

This is great in certain situations. When I was working as a public health nurse, one of the nursing homes I visited had a facility dog. The director adopted him from the ASPCA. Food service was in charge of the feeding, the nurses aides bathed him, he had a large garden in the back, the residents were in charge of the loving and the dog usually hung out in the lobby. He could be sound asleep on the lobby floor but when the door or the elevator opened his tail would thump the floor.

He would go to residents and sit in front of them waiting for a pat. The only hazard he had to watch out for was wheelchairs with bad drivers:D

That dog had it made!

I read that too and IMO it makes the idea even more suspect. It's like they are changing their plan and how it's presented. So basically they got negative feedback and are now presenting it differently. I just don't think it's a very well thought out idea. I visited a NH that had a resident cat and thought wonderful idea. But checking a dog out at the front desk......:rolleyes:

I'm not seeing why this sounds so bad - the kiddo will live with its owner, and be available to play/socialize IN the building. As long as some safety measures are intact, it sounds like an ideal life for 1 very lucky dog who will be adored by an entire community.

My only caveat to the situation is, if someone wants to spend some "play time" w/ my dog in the interior park...what is the supervision / safety measures for both my dog's protection and the protection of those who wish to play (ie, would small children be allowed, and w/ what supervision?...stuff like that).

Put in this manner, yes, the dog sounds more like a commodity...which I don't support. A dog isn't an item to be "checked out".

The second article does make it sound like a bad situation as Emmy would be treated like a toy more than a living being, to be passed around from person to person. In the original article linked, it sounds like a great arrangement for a people friendly dog. You know, the kind of dog that loves being around people and getting all sorts of attention. I am curious as to why in one article, presumably from the same source, says one thing and the mobile article says another.

I still don't think it's a terrible thing. Worry more about the dogs living on the streets fending for themselves, or all the dogs scheduled to be put to sleep every day for no reason at all other than lack of room, or dogs being starved, abused and kept on chains all their lives. I'm not going to fret about a dog who has a warm place to go every night, gets plenty of attention and love , fed, etc especially considering they didn't just BUY her for that purpose. They found her roaming the streets.

I think I would be more concerned if they went and bought a puppy from a store or something FOR that specific purpose, but it sounds like they're just doing this dog a favor really. I simply don't see the harm.

Did u read the second article?

Sorry when I found the article on the website I thought it was the same one I read on the app but I guess it wasn't. The one I have a problem with is the one I read on the app which I posted a few posts up. That's the one that's says checking her out like library book. The first article does not sound horrible it's the second one and I'm not sure which is the truth.

I see your point. And for the right dog this can be paradise. I see lots of street dogs that go from home to home where they know they can get a meal, an ear scratch, and a bed to sleep in. Then they're off to visit their other family. I see this a lot near my office. For the right, people friendly dog, this might work out. However, I do think the people involved have to have the right mentality. If they see this pup as nothing more than an object, then yes this is a total disaster. How many times have you checked out a library book or a DVD only to find it is damaged? BUT, if the pup is seen like a community dog, it will be taken care of. How many schools or companies have a mascot? Doesn't Yale parade handsome Dan around at events etc?

You also need to realize that mascot dogs normally live with one person or family and are taken to the events by that person or family so it's not the same thing. The problem is abuse to the dog, people not know what is safe for dogs and what's not and even the dog running out into traffic. Using this as a ploy to get more renters and comparing her to a library book is wrong. Brit did you read the second article and what is said is terribly wrong. Unless this dog was adopted only for this then she was off the streets anyway also if a dog is being abused then putting them to sleep would be kinder then abusing them or letting them be abused. If she also came from the street you don't know what terrible things she has been through so putting her in the situation to be like a library book is not fair to her. How can anyone say it's not terrible to be put in a situation where you are seen as a library book? Would you like your dog seen and treated that way?