Buying with a dog in mind

If a fenced yard, a nearby off-leash park, or a daycare you actually trust is part of what makes a house work for your family, that's a completely legitimate thing to search around — here's what's actually out there.

Ann Arbor

The city runs three off-leash dog parks, plus a seasonal pop-up:

• Swift Run Dog Park — 10 acres, bounded by Ellsworth Rd and Platt Rd, with separate fenced runs for large and small dogs.
• Olson Park — 1505 Dhu Varren Rd, under an acre.
• Broadway Park — 800 Broadway St, along the Huron River, 1.37 acres with separate small/large dog areas.
• Veterans Memorial Park Pop-Up — seasonal, open November through March, near Dexter Ave.

All of Ann Arbor's off-leash areas require an annual permit: a current rabies vaccination certificate, a valid dog license, and a signed waiver. Apply online at stream.a2gov.org, by mail, or in person at the City Clerk's Office (301 E. Huron St.). Service dogs are fee-exempt, and scholarships are available by calling 734-794-6230.

Saline

Mill Pond Park has a 1-acre off-leash dog park with a double-gated entrance, agility ramps, picnic tables, and water access.

Ypsilanti area

Ypsilanti doesn't run a municipal off-leash park the way Ann Arbor does, but a privately owned fenced dog park in Ypsilanti Township is popular with local dog owners — worth checking current hours and access before you plan around it, since private parks change terms more often than city ones.

Belleville & Van Buren Township

Honestly: there isn't a dedicated off-leash dog park directly in Belleville or Van Buren Township as of this writing. The nearest options are in Woodhaven and Romulus, a drive rather than a walk. If dog park access specifically (not just yard space) is a priority, that's worth weighing against everything else Belleville offers — lake access usually wins that tradeoff for the buyers who choose it, but it's fair to know going in.

Doggie daycare & boarding

• Dogtopia of South Ann Arbor — 3825 Carpenter Rd, Suite 101, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Daycare, boarding, and spa services. 734-477-6881.
• Pup City — 4177 Carpenter Rd, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Daycare and boarding with over 11,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor play space.
• BreedAbove — Ann Arbor area daycare and boarding, started by local owners.

Hours, pricing, and intake requirements change — confirm directly with each business before you rely on this list, and before you assume a specific address is close enough for a daily drop-off to actually be practical.

Looking for a place that works for you and the dog? Let's talk