Safe and Happy City Living: A Guide for Single Women and Their Pets |ADDICTED

Living in a big city can meaningfully boost your quality of life. Polls show that people who live in urban areas are typically happier than their rural peers, thanks to improved proximity to amenities, increased access to varied food, and closeness to friends and families.

Guest post by Katie Brenneman

Cities are typically safer than rural spaces, too. Statistics Canada found that there were 7,033 incidents per 100,000 in rural areas, compared to just 4,919 per 100,000 in urban spaces. This defies the popular belief that the countryside is safer than cities or towns.

However, that doesn’t mean you should overlook some of the health and safety risks that come with living in a city — particularly if you’re a single woman living with a pet. Despite efforts to end gender-based violence (GBV), it has been on the rise since the pandemic. Fortunately, a few proactive steps can keep you and your animal companion safe and happy when moving to the big city in your province.

Making the Move Work

Moving from rural living to a big city can be daunting if you’re used to country lanes and a slower pace of life. However, you can make the move work today by planning ahead and accounting for the unique challenges of moving to the city, which include:

- Adjusting to Small Spaces: Make the most of smaller city apartments by using multi-purpose furniture and storage hacks like under-bed bins. This will free up space for playing with your pet and keep choking hazards out of reach.
- Choosing a Neighbourhood: Finding a neighbourhood that suits your pet’s needs is crucial if you want to make the move a success. For example, if you’re the proud owner of a young pup, you probably need to find an apartment near a dog park.

Public Transport: Being able to use buses, trams, and trains is a real boon when living in the city. Figure out your route ASAP and find out whether or not you can take your dog onboard with you.

Socializing: Both you and your pet need to form a new social circle following a big move. Get the ball rolling by signing up for group dog walks or attending fun events like book clubs and volunteering opportunities.

Preparing properly for the big move can help you feel at home that much sooner when you move to a new city. Researching things like bus routes can get you out into the community and aid your efforts to connect with local people. Just be sure to organize your living space properly before you start venturing out, as you can’t afford to leave your pet in a messy, dangerous space while socializing with new friends.

Creating a Supportive Home Environment

Creating a supportive home environment for you and your pets is key if you want to thrive in the city. Failing to properly organize your space can be stressful, too, as clutter and mess may raise your chances of developing anxiety.

Start by ensuring that your home is clean and free of any objects that could harm you or your pet. This means you’ll need to be on the lookout for common pests that are harmful to pets, like ants and botflies. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for harmful insects and pests like:

Mosquitoes
Raccoons
Spiders
Ticks
Bees and wasps
Boxelder Bugs

Curious cats can fall ill if they eat small insects like boxelder bugs, while ticks can be a real issue for dogs. Call in pest control if you suspect you have a serious breakout on your hands, as you don’t want to start city life in the vet’s office caring for your pet.

Once you’ve unpacked, start making your house into a home by observing your pet’s habits and adjusting your floor plan accordingly. For example, if your kitten loves to stare out the window or sleep in the sun, consider moving their climbing tree to a location where they can lounge around all day.

Similarly, adjust your plans if you have a pooch who loves to dash between rooms while you play together. Simple adjustments to your furniture location can open up your house and help your dog burn off some energy before you take them for a walk. You may also want to invest in a few rugs and runners if you find that your dog slips and slides on hard surfaces like wood floors.

City Safety

Living in a city is statistically safer than living in rural areas. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore common sense when out and about — even if you have a big dog to protect you. If you’re worried about threats while living in a city, consider taking up a martial art for self-defence. Self-defence skills are crucial today, as learning a martial art can give you:

Increased confidence
Practical skills in a fight
Improved fitness
Self-discipline
A sense of empowerment

Self-defence can teach you important skills that keep you safe in an emergency. However, you should never underestimate the danger that any type of physical altercation presents — even if you have serious fighting skills. If you ever think you may be in danger, flee from the situation and call for help.

You can keep yourself out of harm’s way by learning a few street smarts, too. Research your new city before you pack your bags and find out if there are any areas where crime is more likely to occur. Give these streets a miss when planning your commute, and aim to learn more from local people when you settle in. This may mean you want to adjust your plans when walking your pooch, or it could mean that you look for alternate accommodation before making the move.

Taking Care of Dogs

All animals like to feel secure in their new home. However, dogs are at particular risk of becoming unhappy when you move to the city. They can’t roam around freely in the garden anymore and may show signs of sadness if you don’t ensure their needs are met on a daily basis. You can take good care of your dog while living in the city by:

Keeping them hydrated, as dogs can become thirsty quickly when lounging around in hot apartments.
Take them to the vet regularly and build a rapport with their veterinarian
Train them to be obedient and work on their walking skills
Keep them well-groomed to ensure your small space doesn’t become overrun by dog hair
Microchip your dog lest they get loose and can’t remember how to return to your new home

Taking steps to care for and protect your dog will help them settle in quicker. This can make a world of difference if your pooch is a little anxious about the move. A happy dog can boost your quality of life, too, as few pleasures in life can top the feeling of returning home to a happy pet after a hard day in the office.

Taking care of your pet when you move to a new city should be a top priority. They’re sure to feel a little unsettled by the move and may become stressed if you fail to help them adjust. Making strategic changes to your daily habits can help you settle in, too. Get the ball rolling by creating a supportive home environment and start building a new social circle by attending martial arts classes, book clubs, or meet-ups in the area.