You need to research/know the rules, laws and regulations (including HOA if applicable), like you'd do in any US city.

That is, buy one home in city X (where I don't live), live in it a couple of months let it be an STR the rest of the time and then the next year (or in two years) repeat again in the same city. 

If you intend to continue 'helping' dogs, you need to move out of the city and to a rural area with acreage.

And given that, in a major city, there are hundreds of houses put on the market weekly, you need a method to efficiently screen properties to make sure they won't bleed money before you spend time analyzing, touring them ect. 

@Peter AlbertHi Peter, Canton city, to be clear, looks great for investing from afar.

I would be delighted to connect if you have any questions or if you're considering exploring the Kansas City market.

Being a realtor, you already know the area, you know contractors and you know what's happening in the city.

But, if I were you I wouldn't purchase more rentals on the outskirts of the city.

I like the idea of a different city that give me a lot of the benefits of San Diego without the high cost. 

Up near the Quad Cities in Mercer County.