Backyard optional: City pets need love, exercise

Suzanne Cole didn't give it a second thought when she was preparing to move from Kansas City to New York City. Of course her Irish setter would share her 450-square-foot apartment in Manhattan.

What she didn't question, others did, and walking Rudy drew attention. "I got involved in so many conversations where people would ask, `How can you live with a dog that big?"' Cole said.

Cole so loved sharing her urban life with Rudy that after she died, she adopted a second Irish setter and raised her in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Now that Cole has moved back to Kansas and Lucy can chase opossums and squirrels, "she couldn't care less," Cole said. "She wants to be inside, 5 feet from me."

Having a good city pet experience like Cole's requires an honest assessment of your lifestyle as well as some homework to find the right animal and a commitment to invest the necessary time.

Jonathan Klein, a Culver City, Calif., dog trainer, generally advises against herding, sporting and working dog breeds for city owners because they require so much exercise.

But Klein himself shared an apartment with a border collie, a corgi and a German shepherd -- all herding dogs -- for several years. That's because he considers himself a dog enthusiast who was willing to put significant time into training and exercising his canines.

"Just because I lived in an apartment with three dogs, I'm not recommending other people do it," he said.

If you're a more sedate person, he said, choose a more mellow breed; surprisingly, a big dog like a great Dane or a greyhound might be a fit.

Regardless of breed or size, Klein emphasized that every dog needs exercise and time spent with its owner. Not having a big backyard isn't detrimental to a dog's well being, he said. More important is connecting with the owner through regular walks or practicing tricks.

Jane Hoffman, president of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, a coalition of more than 160 animal rescue groups and shelters, said it's hard for both human and pet if an adoption fails, so it's important to make an informed choice.

"A lot of people pick a pet based on color, or because they like the dog on `Frasier,' but they don't realize Jack Russells are insane," Hoffman said. Jack Russell terriers are very smart and energetic, she added, which could also be great for a city dweller with an active lifestyle.

For example, Linda Carlson lives in Seattle with a fox terrier who needs about five miles of walking a day, so she and her husband plan their days around multiple walks.

If that's not for you, Hoffman noted that cats are more self-sufficient, and adopting two kittens from the same litter gives each a playmate when you're away.

Not all cats are the same, however. Hoffman said some people might hate how vocal a Siamese is, for example, so it's worthwhile to learn about breed personalities.

And beyond breeds, each cat has its own personality. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a Website called Meet Your Match that categorizes adoptable cats into personality types like secret admirer, party animal and sidekick.

Likewise, the ASPCA categorizes dogs into groups like busy bee, couch potato and wallflower.

Tracey McTague, author of the upcoming book "City Puppy: Finding, Training and Loving your Urban Dog" (Overlook Press), said prospective pet owners shouldn't dwell on breed. "It's distracting and leads to uninformed generalizations like 'small breeds are good for apartments,"' she said. Instead, she suggested talking to shelter staffers about each particular animal's personality.

In addition, McTague said, "Many people buy breeds based on some fantasy of what they would like their lifestyle to actually become, and not what time and energy they actually have to spare -- kind of like a gym membership in January."

Fostering a homeless pet instead of adopting or buying one can be a win-win: It helps the shelter learn about the animal to help with a later adoption, and it helps the foster "parent" learn more about what works and what doesn't -- with a short-term commitment.

If you rent and don't know if you can commit to a pet for 20 years, taking in an animal for a few weeks might be more realistic.

Dogs and cats aren't the only pet choices, obviously. Hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, turtles and fish are just some of the options that might work well in a small space.

Hoffman recommended Petfinder.com's resources, which include tips before you adopt a reptile or bird, and she suggested talking to specialized animal rescue groups, such as one that specializes in rodents, if that's your interest.