Living in Anchorage? (smog, apartment, condo)

[sanfranciscoali]

Hi!

I love Alaska , it's simply beautiful! I love the snow , cold.. cozy feeling

I lived there for a year (when I was born) then we moved.
Now we might move back.. here are my questions ;

First and most important: Air Pollution. Is it really bad? Long story short I need a place thats decent . Of course no pollution would be the best , but that won't happen.
It is the air pollution really bad in Alaska/Anchorage?

Dogs: We have a dog who is like 35 pounds and still growing! She is going to get big ...is Anchorage big dog friendly?

Living space :

#1 non carpet floors. I know , I know.. carpet is probably what we are going to find.. but our dogs sheds and with my breathing thing I would really like anything non carpet.
Just is healthier... How are we going to find a place without carpet? Is it impossible?!

#2 Well I might as well skip this one because finding more that one bedroom won't be hard...

#3 My mother has insisted on Downtown.. but I would like Southside because I would really like a back yard..

We are looking for a house, apartment , condo , duplex , or town house in downtown . But I am secretly looking in South side too. We have not had good luck with these needs.
My mom lived in Anchorage for quite some time also

Is it going to be really hard to find a place that meets these needs? We have looked (on craigslist) and it's hard...is there a secret or something that helps you find more of them?

Thanks!

[pw72]

I don't have specific answers for all your questions, but your post brings up some memories from my 2-year stint in Anchorage.

Dog-Friendly...yes, unless they get eaten by a roaming Moose.

Carpets? yes, and almost everyone takes off their shoes before going into homes. Many times, the host will request this upon entering.

Air pollution...an occasional "inversion", which is a fancy word for smog. Caused by lack of wind, an auto culture, and lots of fireplaces and woodstoves burning in carpeted homes with dogs lying nearby.

[sanfranciscoali]

Thanks!!
Gotta love them Moose!
Oh that's a good idea..I am just worried about thick, think carpet.. It creeps me out.. and our dog shed alot.
Hmm.. that doesn't sound as bad as some places in the rest of the US.

Thank you again!

[sanfranciscoali]

Can anybody else answer some questions?

[mal_flisk]

Minimal air pollution. Inversions might rarely happen. Most homes have carpeting, and especially newer ones. Newer homes predominate in South Anchorage.