A man who wanted to adopt a dog says he completed lengthy applications, provided references and shared details about his home and work schedule.
Still, three different shelters reportedly rejected him.
The reason was not a history of mistreating animals or an inability to care for a dog. According to the man, the shelters were concerned because he was single and lived in an apartment without a private yard.
The decision eventually pushed him to stop applying through shelters altogether.
He Wanted To Adopt, But Kept Being Rejected
The man, who uses the username Mountain_Top802 online, shared his experience in a post about his golden retriever, Mac.
He said the shelters asked him to provide photographs of his apartment, information about its size, references and details about his work schedule. Despite completing the process, he said all three organizations rejected his applications because he was single and lived in an apartment without a yard.
He later told Newsweek that he works from home, meaning he would be with the dog throughout most of the day. He nevertheless felt the shelters were judging his ability to care for an animal entirely from his living situation.
After the repeated rejections, he changed direction.
Instead of continuing to apply through shelters, he purchased a golden retriever puppy from a breeder.
That dog became Mac.
Mac’s Life Looked Very Different From What The Shelters May Have Expected
Three years after bringing Mac home, the owner shared a video showing the dog looking healthy and happy.
He said the pair generally complete between 10,000 and 13,000 steps each day. After the man finishes working, they typically go on a two-mile run followed by a two-mile walk home.
He also said he consults with his veterinarian about Mac’s food, exercise and lifestyle needs.
The story quickly attracted attention online.
At the time Newsweek reported on the post, it had received more than 17,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments. Many people shared similar experiences involving adoption applications that had been rejected because they rented, lived in apartments, worked full-time or did not have fenced yards.
Some commenters questioned why shelters encourage people to “adopt, don’t shop” while maintaining rules that can make adoption extremely difficult.
Others defended the shelters, arguing that rescue organizations are responsible for finding homes where dogs are unlikely to escape, be returned or spend long periods without appropriate exercise.
Why Some Shelters Require A Yard
Not every dog is suited to every home.
A dog with high energy, a history of escaping or strong reactions to noises in shared buildings may struggle in an apartment. Some rescue organizations also worry that people without yards will underestimate how frequently a dog needs to be walked.
Working schedules can also matter, particularly when the dog is a puppy, has separation anxiety or requires additional training.
Shelters often know more about an individual dog’s behavior than an applicant does. A requirement that appears unreasonable from the outside may sometimes be connected to the needs of that specific animal.
The controversy begins when those requirements are applied automatically to every applicant rather than used to find the right match.
Does A Yard Automatically Make Someone A Better Dog Owner?
Animal-welfare organizations increasingly argue that the complete circumstances of an applicant should matter more than whether the person owns a yard.
Best Friends Animal Society says many dogs can thrive in apartments. Its guidance on reducing adoption barriers notes that a highly active owner without a yard may provide more walks and playtime than someone who simply leaves a dog alone in a backyard.
The ASPCA similarly says people do not necessarily need a large home or private yard to foster a dog. The more important questions include whether the person can provide appropriate exercise, attention and care for that particular animal.
A yard can make caring for a dog more convenient, but it does not guarantee that the dog will be exercised, trained or included in the family’s daily life.
Likewise, living in an apartment does not guarantee that a dog will be neglected.
Shelters Are Still Trying To Find Homes For Millions Of Dogs
The debate is especially significant because shelters continue to care for millions of animals.
Shelter Animals Count estimates that approximately 2.8 million dogs entered shelters and rescues across the United States during 2025. Around 2 million dogs were adopted, producing an adoption rate of approximately 57% relative to intake.
Every adoption organization has a responsibility to prevent unsafe placements. At the same time, overly broad requirements can exclude responsible people and potentially send them toward breeders instead.
That is what the man in this story says happened to him.
He originally wanted to adopt. After three rejections, purchasing a puppy became the easier option.
Mac Appears To Have Found The Active Life He Needed
Mac did not end up with a fenced yard.
Instead, he ended up with an owner who works from home, runs with him, walks him for miles and says he structures his life around the dog’s needs.
That does not prove that every apartment is suitable for every dog. But it raises an important question about how shelters decide who deserves the opportunity to adopt.
Should living in an apartment without a yard be enough to reject someone, or should shelters evaluate the complete life an applicant can provide?
Sources: Newsweek’s interview with Mac’s owner, the owner’s original Reddit post, Shelter Animals Count, Best Friends Animal Society and the ASPCA.
