Like countless women in NYC before her, Lauren Wire has had it with low-effort men.
But she’s not giving up on dating — at least not entirely.
On a recent Saturday afternoon, Wire headed out to one of the hottest hookup spots in town — her local pet shelter, which loans out rescue dogs for those looking for companionship without the drama.
“Dating apps can start to feel like another item on a to-do list, whereas time with a dog feels uncomplicated, present and non-judgmental,” the singleton told The Post.
“Also, dogs talk less,” she joked.
Wire, who works in PR, is one of many single New Yorkers who are trading in flirting over drinks for an afternoon spent with a pup from a shelter like Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) or Best Friends Animal Society.
The 30-something Manhattanite, who’s been single for a little over a year, told The Post that she’s exhausted by the NYC dating scene and finds it to be a “trickier terrain to navigate than other places. There’s so much choice that people sometimes forget how to be present.”
“I’ve been on plenty of dates that weren’t terrible, just forgettable — or they forget to text back. If you already know what makes you happy, it’s easy to ask yourself why you’d book a date that could be bad,” Wire pointed out.
And spending time with dogs is what makes Wire happy.
Dog dates are “intentional and calming” — the opposite of a bad date — and aren’t about “giving up on dating,” but choosing to spend your time in a way that “feels good in the moment,” she said.
“There’s definitely emotional burnout [from dating]. Everything moves so fast — people are always chasing the next thing, the next neighborhood, the next option — that even a ‘good’ date can feel transactional,” said Wire.
What doesn’t feel emotionally draining and transactional? A happy tail wag and a slobbering kiss.
Signing up for these shelters’ “Borough Breaks” and “Adventure Buddy” programs gives singletons a break from all the swiping, small talk and ghosting that make dating feel like a full-time job — plus, it helps shelter dogs get fresh air and socialize.
Sam Kersnick, 28, of Brooklyn, is a total convert.
“I stopped using dating apps for two years because I’d leave every interaction with zero hope,” the single Ocean Hill neighborhood resident told The Post.
“The few dates I did go on never led to anything and felt like I was wasting my time, money and energy,” Kersnick added. “Time with a shelter dog is fun and makes you both feel good.”
For Kersnick, the idea of spending a day whisking pups to parks, cafés and pet-friendly restaurants is more enticing than trying to get to know a lackluster potential suitor.
These women are certainly not alone in their dog-forward thinking.
Research reveals that almost half of dog owners would prefer to spend their time with their pooch than go on a romantic date. To take things a step further, 33% of those who are coupled up believe they are more compatible with their dog than their partner.
Aside from obvious reasons, why else are singles choosing to invest so much time in animals versus lovers?
“Spending the day with a dog comes with something most app dates do not guarantee: immediate emotional return on investment,” Dr. Shamyra Howard, LCSW/CST, AASECT-certified sex and relationship therapist at We-Vibe, told The Post.
“Dogs are often consistent. They are happy to see you. They are not curating a persona or deciding if they ‘like you enough.’ There is no performance pressure. That alone can feel incredibly rewarding and easy on the nervous system.”
“It’s never going to be a waste of time when you take a dog out,” Reifsnider told The Post. “The dog always gains something from it — and you walk away knowing you made a difference.”
The outings also help stressed shelter canines decompress, get fresh air, socialize — and sometimes even land a forever home, she added.
“You walk away feeling like you made a positive impact and unconditional happiness, which isn’t always guaranteed after a first date,” Wire concurred.
That’s why this trend isn’t about completely giving up on romance — it’s more about parktaking in experiences that ultimately feel good.
“People are realizing they do not have to be in pursuit mode every second just because they are single. Non-romantic intimacy counts,” Howard said. “A dog offers closeness, laughter, care and being seen.”
Some lucky ladies like Cole Reifsnider have even found love while getting a little pooch pick-me-up.
The 30-year-old met her fiancé through their shared love of dogs and volunteering at shelters. She still partakes in the Borough Break program and told The Post that it also allows the couple to meet strangers out and about — a lost art in today’s technology-obsessed era.
“When you’re on the date with the dog and a stranger sees the ‘Adopt Me’ vest [the dogs wear], it sparks a more meaningful conversation rather than just being in a bar and asking someone what they do for work,” Reifsnider told The Post.
Viveca Chow, a 30-year-old content creator and longtime ACC volunteer, is considered the brain behind this “dates with dogs” trend, as she coined the term “date” when taking the dogs out. She often posts social media videos of herself spending a day with shelter pups, inspiring single women to rethink how they spend their time.
“I think we can learn so much from these animals,” the Queens resident told The Post. “When I was single, and even now that I’m married, I love dedicating time to these sweet dogs in the shelter because they deserve everything and more.
“If I could spend a day with a shelter dog, I would absolutely do so — and even trade my husband in for a dog,” she joked.
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