Downtown safety plus dog friendly apt near cmu/u pitts (Pittsburgh: apartments, rentals)

[alexfz420]

Dear all,
My gf and I are going to cmu/ upitts for grad schoo/dental school. We do have a dog, the breed is samoyed. Its a very well-behaved dog,and about 50 pounds. We spent days/weeks to find a large dog friendly studio/1 bedroom/2 bedroom near school but didnot find it.
1. do you have any idea if any apt can allows my dog(near school)
2. We do find a apt which is near state point park(downtown).Is it safe to live in downtown? especially night. Really need help.we do have a car,but the classes may be late. And is it safe to walk dog after 7/8 pm
Thanks a lt

[SteelCityRising]

Welcome in advance to Pittsburgh!

Unfortunately as you're already noticing it's quite a challenge to locate dog-friendly (or even pet-friendly in general) apartments in our fair city. Most landlords just presume the added risk of an irresponsible pet owner damaging their property is not worth it, especially when we already have such a tight rental market. While Downtown isn't the most convenient location if you're going to be heading to Pitt/CMU daily, it's certainly well-serviced by bus routes to Oakland.

I live very near to Downtown and have gone running through there and the adjacent Strip District at night on occasion for exercise. I have never felt uneasy or threatened. It can be a bit "spooky" to be out and about late at night in the heart of a thriving metropolis and feel like you're the only person around, but with the continued growth of apartments and condos Downtown there will soon be much more foot traffic in the evenings. Generally speaking while Pittsburgh DOES have crime issues it's largely targeted non-street crime that is NOT random in nature (i.e. drug deals gone sour, domestic disputes, young males gunning down other young males for "disrespectin" them, people who are mentally ill walking into a building and shooting up the place, etc.)

If I'm unable to afford to purchase my first home here in the East End next year I've already begun scouting around Downtown for pet-friendly rentals myself for me and my partner and our Dachsund. I think you're going to see some serious growth in residential population Downtown over the next decade.