When Howard and Suze Rubin, both 77, left their warm and cosy home in Florida for New York, they weren’t looking for a high-flying life in NYC. In fact, they moved to NYC for the weather. But they weren’t the ones chasing the cooler weather; their beloved dog, a bearded Collie named Buster, was. Florida may have a lot of beaches, but the sun wasn’t something good boy Buster could handle. “Summer is warm here, and you can’t really go out and play,” Howard told the Wall Street Journal. So the couple bought a home in NYC and spent nearly $3 million on renovating it before listing it on the market.
A $3 million home built for one good boy
Pic courtesy: Dr. Howard A. Rubin
Howard, a technology consultant and professor emeritus of computer science at Hunter College, and Suze, a retired veterinary technician, school psychologist and volunteer EMT, lived in Boca Raton, Florida. But the weather wasn’t suitable for their beloved dog, Buster. So they decided to move. In 2019, the couple purchased a $1.825 million home in Pound Ridge, New York. The home sits on 2.76 acres. Built in 1996, the 5,000 sq. ft. mid-century modern home came with four bedrooms. This may sound solid for a couple, but it was not quite the comfortable home they wanted for Buster, who needed protection from heat and the kind of outdoor space that lets a large dog be, well, a dog! So they invested every penny to make sure their new home, ‘Buster’s Retreat’, was perfect enough for their pooch.
Pic courtesy: Dr. Howard A. Rubin
The couple spent another $2 million on renovations. They added two sun shelves to the swimming pool—not for themselves, but for Buster to lounge on. “He loves water, but he doesn’t swim,” Howard told the outlet. He has never been in the pool himself. “We never use it. It’s his.” They also added a composite pool deck that deflects heat to protect Buster’s paws. “We don’t want his little feet to get burned,” Howard said. One of Buster’s favourite pastimes is lying on the deck and watching landscapers work when they come over.
Pic courtesy: Dr. Howard A. Rubin
The pool isn’t the only place dogs like to explore. They feel most at home doing zoomies in the backyard. So the backyard became a landscape architecture project with a single client in mind! They strategically planted Japanese maples throughout the backyard to provide shade coverage. Several large umbrellas were also placed, so Buster “always has protection for his fuzzy body.”A fenced-in area functions as his personal playground. There’s artificial turf where needed. Every element was chosen with the understanding that a bearded Collie’s comfort isn’t negotiable when you’ve committed this deeply. “It is like a party all day for him,” Howard added.
Pic courtesy: Dr. Howard A. Rubin
There is entertainment available for him indoors as well. When he gets bored with the activities outdoors, he would move to the living room to watch some TV! “He loves to watch a show called Paw Patrol,” Howard said. There are two guest rooms in the house, which are practically Buster’s extra rooms.The couple treated the project with the precision you’d expect from someone in his field. Details matter. Dog paw comfort matters. Everything matters. For a dog that most people would consider spoiled rotten, Buster seems to have settled into his role with appropriate confidence. His humans do not consider it a sacrifice. They do these things with utmost joy. “I wouldn’t say we’ve given up part of our life for him, but we’ve changed our life for him,” Howard said.
Buster’s Retreat is back on the market
Pic courtesy: Dr. Howard A. Rubin
Though the family of three deeply enjoyed their New York life, Suze began to miss Florida. They are now planning to return to the Sunshine State and have listed the multi-million-dollar home on the market.Sally Slater, the listing agent from Douglas Elliman, doesn’t expect the home to linger. Well, Buster’s Retreat has everything a dog parent can think of: the renovations, the custom landscaping, the pool with its sun shelves, the fenced playground, the temperature-controlled environment. It’s move-in ready, which in real estate language means someone else is about to inherit a home built to exceedingly specific standards!“People are willing to pay a premium for turnkey properties,” Slater said. This could be any pet parent’s dream home.Do you know someone who would be more than happy to buy this perfect home for their beloved dog? Feel free to share this with them!
