Thoughts
 

D.C. apartment building to offer 'communal dog' | WJLA.com

I think this is horrible. The poor dog is going to be so confused and a dog is not an item it is a living being!

This is outrageous to me...this isn't like a Therapy Dog...this is an accident waiting to happen....that poor dog...

As crazy as it sounds, this is how some dogs live their lives. What's the difference from being bounced around from "grandma's house" to "doggy daycare" to "the neighbor's house" or taking the puppy over with you when you sleep over at the boyfriend's house. It's not an ideal situation, as I would hate it for Kaji personally, but it happens. It's just not labeled the same way. At least that's what it sounds like to me. The guy is getting free dog walking services for his pup by the tenants moving into the building. It kinda sounds like he arrangement my roommate and I had with her Pom. While she was at work, I could take her dog to play or walk within our complex. Then ahe would come home and take him with her to her boyfriend's house.

Anywho... That's how I understood the article.

Depends how it's done.

If it's like the dog is the manager's and the other people can just borrow it to play I'm ok with it. Ideally the manager would be able to keep the dog if he ever changed jobs.

My big issue is I think a bull dog was a bad choice due to their respiratory issues.

What about the dog being treated badly? Or even feed crap food that could be toxic? Or kids that don't know how to behave around dogs? What about the fact there comparing this dog to a library book. That's not ok this is not a thing or an item it's a living being that does have feelings.

I agree Taylor, its sad....I guess the question is would you trust your dog to someone you don't know? There are so many sick people out there...I think this is awful.


Therapy dogs, visiting dogs etc are wonderful programs...this GREAT IDEA is just not a good idea at all...

The dog will love it. As long as it is done carefully I think it is a sweet idea.

I find the ideas slightly strange. How is the dog going to know what the appropriate manners are for each home? How are the renters going to know when the dog needs to go out or isn't feeling well? Sure he might get a lot of attention for the day or whatever but he won't have a true owner. :(

I would have a problem if he did go from home to home, but the article said he will live with one person and be allowed to play with renters in a common area.

This. It doesn't really sound that bad to me. It's not abusive, and the dog will no longer be living on the streets.

There has been some weeks where I travel a lot with Jackson. One night we'll be at my dads, the next night at moms, the next night a friends, then maybe back to dads for a few nights. He does fine with it and loves it.

This. The dog is not allowed to leave with tenants and will live with the property manager. It sounds just like people that send their dog to doggy daycare daily and come home for the evening.

They did not compare this dog to renting a library book.

"It's not like she can be checked out like a book and taken away and not come back," said Beckman.


Now, Jackson would not like a situation like this, simply because he doesn't like to be pet by strangers. But I am sure this dog is friendly - most bulldogs I meet love people, and she's obviously off the streets, so it's a win-win for all. Better than sitting around in a cage in a shelter waiting to be adopted or euthanized.

This is how I understood it as well. It would then be up to the dog's owner to decline letting the pup go with someone, or what they are allowed to do or not do. Like we do with our dogs being watched by friends or family.

Also, think about the fact that probably 80% of the pet population sits at home for 8 hours a day alone. This pup will likely get more love and attention than most dogs.

Guilty. If I get home early, I let Kaji out to sun himself or walk before the sun goes down. (Not really a problem anymore) Or if my brothers beat me home, they entertain him for a bit.

Yep! And nothing wrong that. Jackson is the kind of dog that would rather be at home for 8hrs than doggy daycare anyway -- that would stress him out way too much.

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?