Last spring, when J.J. Hill finally closed on his dream apartment — a light-filled loft in TriBeCa — the only thing missing was someone (or something) with whom to share it.

“Weekdays can be lonely for a single guy,” said Mr. Hill, a workers’ compensation lawyer. “You want somebody to come home to at the end of a long day.”

Mr. Hill knew adopting a dog made the most sense, but finding the right one with such little free time seemed daunting.

Luckily, Mr. Hill had grown close with his broker Jason Walker, an agent at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, who coincidentally is an ardent animal supporter. Mr. Walker has made a habit of rescuing dogs and occasionally gives them to select clients as closing gifts.