A Dog for a Day?

Well here's the deal a pet is just as special as any person. Most shelters are there to function as the animal equivalent of "good" foster parents. These often times underfunded places do their best to help these animals when they have nothing else. This pet rental system is simply a way for people who are either too lazy or too full of themselves to care about animals and their feelings. I have lived with dogs and other animals all my life and I know and see the pain that is caused when I leave for even an hour. Now imagine going to a house and then a day or even hours later wisked away to a new place and new people to meet. At first, this is ok it is no different then a pet shop. However, this persists for weeks and then months and then years and you as a person or a pet become emotionally drained and have nothing. No love, no home, nothing! So, before you think of the unfortunate people who have a choice thinj of the poor unfortunate pet who is caught up in all of this.

Why can't folks just look at this as another way for pets to have a chance?! Some people like to shop at very expensive boutiques stores as opposed to shopping at the warehouse type stores. Even though it is more expensive, they choose to do this because they are paying for the comfort level they want. Other people are very comfortable shopping at the warehouse type stores because their priority is the savings they can get. Different priorities are present! This same attitude holds true for pet rentals. Some people don't like the idea that they have to go to a shelter, where the whole spectrum of animals is present and in very, very basic conditions. Personally I don't think shelters are very cheery places! So they go to a cheerier place and are willing to pay for the experience of being screened thoroughly, just like at the shelter, to do the same thing as several people are saying they should do by just volunteering at a shelter. A note to insert here is that people that rent these pets develop a relationship with them. The ratio of renters to pets is about 5:1. This is better than at the shelter, where a pet is handled by several volunteers as well as those visiting and looking to adopt. Now THERE is a stressful situation for the animal!! Again, why not take a breath and see the benefits of rentals to both the animal and the person!! Many elderly people would love an opportunity to own a pet, but due to illness or environment, just can't. An occasional on-going relationship with a pet could be very healing!!

Lets focus on real problems for animals! LIke breeding and puppy mills, dog fighting, slaughterhouses!

Renting pets in popular in Japan, where space is at a premium and dog ownership is a luxury. It was only a matter of time before the idea spread to the US and Europe.

That said, I fail to see why people who are interested in pets aren't donating their time to the hundreds of local shelters and rescues out there. No one says that they have to commit to fostering or adopting a dog, for example. They can dedicate a few hours a week or month as their schedule allows. They can play and walk the dogs, bathe them -- whatever it is that dog owners do! Human gets the benefit of unconditional love from an animal, the animal gets the benefit of learning to interact with a variety of people -- a win-win situation, if you ask me! Why does someone need to profit from this?

This is modeled after businesses in Japan that do the same thing. Dog ownership is a bit of a luxury over there so "renting" a dog has become popular.

I think that it would make more sense for people craving the affection of animals to volunteer at a shelter. They don't have to commit to fostering or adopting but they could donate a few hours of their time, weekly or monthly, to socialize with the animals of their choosing. Human gets the benefit of animal interaction and animal gets the benefit of being socialized to a variety of people. A win-win situation for everyone... except the dog rental companies, that is!

Wake up people! All this is business is about is catering to us people here in the States with our "disposable" habits. Was is next infants for rent?? One poster already suggested that for a day!

I am a animal lover, and have two dogs of my own. Cannot imagine them being a "rental" property! They look to you for love and affection! And they are not "in-bred" dumb animals, as another poster commented on. I applaud the law-makers who are putting the nix on these companies. If you want a part time pet become a foster for animals at your local shelter, until they can find good loving homes with people that will love them for their lifetime!

This lends the potential for people involved with beastiality to rent an animal for a day or even hours, use them for sexual purposes, and return them when they're done. Think bigger.

I've read most of the comments on this dog rental idea. There seems to be a huge number that think that dog rental is okay. I tend to agree. I own 3 dogs. They are very happy, well-exercised, well-fed, and well socialized dogs!! I think this type of business should have a state licensing process and fee, with inspections done on a regular basis. This would protect the dogs, the owners, and the renters, while generating resource income for animal welfare agencies! It would reassure those concerned, while still giving unwanted dogs a chance to receive life and love. After legislators have had a chance to see these dog rental operations personally, and see how they screen and acquire their dogs, care for them, and interview and screen the renters, I don't understand how they could then be able to make blanket assumptions and ban them outright! Perhaps a special fee can be accessed on the adoptions of animals going to rental operations, thereby generating more income at the shelters. Rather than making this whole idea illegal, and taking opportunity for life and companionship away from a few dogs, I think legislation should focus their efforts in making the extinction of puppy top priority!!! Now those are the places that should really be getting media and legislative attention, but then that subject is just too graphic and unpleasant to discuss! These are the places where dogs don???t have humane conditions in which to live, they are not held and loved. They are caked in their own feces and chew on their own limbs! This is too ugly and unpopular to be reading about at the breakfast table or talking about over lunch with other legislators! At best, banning dog rental operations is a band-aid over a festering wound! Let???s focus on the primary problem of puppy mills and most of the secondary problems will eliminate themselves!

I've read most of the comments on this dog rental idea. There seems to be a huge number that think that dog rental is okay. I tend to agree. I own 3 dogs. They are very happy, well-exercised, well-fed, and well socialized dogs!! I think this type of business should have a state licensing process and fee, with inspections done on a regular basis. This would protect the dogs, the owners, and the renters, while generating resource income for animal welfare agencies! It would reassure those concerned, while still giving unwanted dogs a chance to receive life and love. After legislators have had a chance to see these dog rental operations personally, and see how they screen and acquire their dogs, care for them, and interview and screen the renters, I don't understand how they could then be able to make blanket assumptions and ban them outright! Perhaps a special fee can be accessed on the adoptions of animals going to rental operations, thereby generating more income at the shelters. Rather than making this whole idea illegal, and taking opportunity for life and companionship away from a few dogs, I think legislation should focus their efforts in making the extinction of puppy top priority!!! Now those are the places that should really be getting media and legislative attention, but then that subject is just too graphic and unpleasant to discuss! These are the places where dogs don???t have humane conditions in which to live, they are not held and loved. They are caked in their own feces and chew on their own limbs! This is too ugly and unpopular to be reading about at the breakfast table or talking about over lunch with other legislators! At best, banning dog rental operations is a band-aid over a festering wound! Let???s focus on the primary problem of puppy mills and most of the secondary problems will eliminate themselves!

I would agree that this would be very emotional on the pet's, weither it be a dog or cat. Sometimes when people get around these pet's, the pets become shy just as a child does. I am an animal lover, and think renting the pet's out is wrong.

Obviously the lawmakers have never owned a horse and kept it at a stable with other like-minded horse owners. Leasing of horses, which allows individuals unable to afford the full expense of "happy horse ownership" is as common as brushing yor teeth. When my daughter first began riding I could not afford to buy her a horse. Instead we leased from a woman whose job kept her traveling much of the time. It was a perfect situation for all of us. Later when we were able to afford to buy and own horses on our own we have again sought out other people who may want to lease. I have always viewed our experiences as Win-Win for the horse [who is more like a member of our family], my daughter and the person who leases time with one of our horses.

To not allow this service to occur with other pets is unfounded. Has anyone read the amount of money that FlexPetz charges in advance. I cannot imagine anyone who was looking to be creuel to one of their pets would pay these steep charges. I think this has been greatly blown out of proportion and should be allowed.

Having lost our 18 yo beloved Shih-tzu 3 years ago I would love to use this service. Not ready to be a full-time parent, but the thought of Grandparenting a dog sounds grand!!!

Lousey, Lousey idea! Dogs, like children, need stability and continuity in their lives.

Lousey, Lousey Idea!!! I've got 4 rescues that were so badly mistreated they wouldn't and won't accept a "part-time" owner.

Interesting. The government allows companies to gambling with our mortgages, then bales them out when it come crashing down... and ethical practices of oil companies,.... but we can't savev& rent unwanted dogs...

Interesting. The government allows companies to gambling with our mortgages, then bales them out when it come crashing down... and ethical practices of oil companies,.... but we can't savev& rent unwanted dogs...

depending on the breed of dog, this might work out. but some dogs are definite homebodies who need the consistancy of one owner with a stable, loving and caring environment. since more and more hotels and motels are becoming pet friendly, we don't even need to leave the dog with the kennel anymore. but "doggy daycare" is getting better, too. so, if you can afford to have a pet and take care of it, you're fine. but renting out a dog to make yourself feel better is just sad. either get a dog, or deal!

A friend of mine who has cancer shares his dog with us and 2 other families. The visits last for 1 week to 3 weeks. Dusty, a Lab-Border Collie mix loves this. We have been doing this for years. She knows how to play each of us. We see no "Emotional Scars" on her, she is happy to see all of us. Much better than the "Cruel Kennels". This whole movement to prevent this, is a bunch of balony by people that have nothing else to do.

why ban renting a dog for people who can't own one but enjoy the company of a dog? Why can anyone with money go and rent a horse with no screening or teaching on how to care for it? no care about there ablity to ride the animal or how the might ride the animal.but becUSE SOMEONE Came up with a way to save some unwanted dogs from being killed now someone cares for them and what happens to them? then noone should be allowed to place there animal in a kennel and go on vaction it's the same thing right?

i would like to know why no one has baned people from renting horses out to anyone who wants on. or if the people can ride or how they ride. if renting dogs to people who can't owner one is wrong then shouldn't that applies to every rental of a living being? but horses are rented to whom ever has the money to and the people are not told how to care for on screened to make sure the animals are safe and or cared for. i have seen how the rental horses are treated . where is the protection for them?