Rooftop dog runs cater to condo canines in Edmonton highrises
Taking your dog out for a pee is taking on a whole new look in some Edmonton condo and apartment buildings
Instead of taking the elevator down to the urban jungle — some condo dwellers are taking their pets to the 27th floor for a little relief.
In the past year, two new pet-friendly buildings have opened in Edmonton that boast rooftop dog runs.
On 124th street, tucked into the historic Buena Vista Building in Oliver is The MacLaren. The highrise apartment building opened last year and is marketed as very pet-friendly.
"I did not have a dog when I moved in," said Katie Schneider, who moved into the building last December.
"It was a really good incentive to move in here to be somewhat ready for a dog at one point."
Two-year-old Sam the golden retriever came into Schneider's life in April and they use the rooftop relief area often.
"It's been a dream being here, not only for this really handy late night, early morning, come up here really quickly if she's feeling antsy. But the community here, too," Schneider said.
"A lot of them at least have dogs or pets and the interaction that she can get with dogs and just socialization, especially when we were all at home, was huge."
At the West Block in Glenora, beyond the cushy patio chaise and gas fireplace, is a fenced dog run. It runs the length of the rooftop and gives residents and their dogs a chance to socialize.
"He's actually gotten younger since we moved in here," said Cate Metz about her 13-year-old dog named Grady. They moved into the building about a year ago.
"He'll race out of the elevator, he knows which way to go. He races out. Then you open the door and he races up. And he's just very happy," said Metz. "We can't be here if it's not a spot where our dog can be."
Cantiro is the developer behind the design.
Angelica Leal, who was the assistant project manager on the building, said one of the questions the project developers asked when planning the project was 'what do Edmontonians want in their homes?'
The answer — a backyard.
"Part of it was the easiness ... of just opening your door and letting your dog out," Leal said.
"That was the main reason why we ended up planning to have the dog run on the third floor."
Leal and her three dogs, Dante, Martin and Primo, were also some of the first residents to move in. Finding a building that not only accepts, but embraces three dogs is a challenge.
"Oh, no, it's not easy," said Leal. "We have great neighbours and everybody loves the dogs."
Like the MacLaren, the building also has a full dog-wash station in the lobby — blow-dryer and all.
The dogs also know they're welcomed, as they patiently wag their tails at the concierge desk waiting for a treat.
Austin Joynes, vice president of marketing and training with Rhapsody Property Management Services, said pet-friendly buildings stand out because some landlords treat pets and pet owners "almost as second-class renters."
Joynes said the feeling of community is heightened with dogs on the lease. You may not know your neighbours' names — but chances are you know their pooch's.
"'That's Poppy's mom' or 'that's that's Rufus's dad', it creates those kind of social connections that sometimes you miss living in a big city or living in a concrete highrise."
