You CAN be a good doggy parent without a fenced yard.

But it is more difficult. Most shelters require a fence because they recognize that a lot of people begin by taking their dogs for walks and end up just letting them out in the yard. "I just let him out for 5 minutes! Really, he never leaves the yard!" is an often heard comment when a dog goes missing.

I couldn't have dogs without good fences. Mine is 6 foot wooden fence all around the back yard. Keeps other dogs (and dognappers) away and my dogs in.