Rent-A-Dog Service Introduced

Company Provides Part-Time Ownership To Dog Lovers With Full Schedules

(AP) 
Since signing up, Gonzalez said a black Lab named Jackpot has become a treasured part of her social network. They spend an average of one day each weekend together. He sleeps at her apartment and she takes him on hikes, to the beach and to parks frequented by other dog owners. The money spent on her membership has been well worth it, she said.

"I never even thought that was a possibility," Gonzalez said. "I thought you either owned a dog or you didn't."

Although she has never seen the doggy day care center where Jackpot spends his off-days, Gonzalez recently met another of his part-time companions, graphic designer Jenny Goddard, 33. Goddard, who is married with a 6-year-old son, said having a dog a weekend or two a month has been perfect for her busy family and encourages them to spend more time together outdoors.

"It's funny," she said. "He is so friendly and immediately playful with us, people are surprised he is a rental dog."

The idea of commitment-free pets is not entirely new, although no one in the United States has tried it with as much drive as Cervantes. Most private animal shelters, for instance, encourage volunteers to become temporary foster families to animals awaiting adoption.

For 15 years, the Aspen Animal Shelter in Colorado has gone a step further with a Rent-a-Pet program that allows residents and tourists in the resort town to take dogs out for a few hours or overnight for free.

"It benefits the homeless animals, keeps them socialized and exercised and in the end they end up getting adopted," said owner Seth Sachson. "The people benefit, too. When a tourist walks around town with a dog, they feel like a local."

Melissa Bain, a veterinarian with the Companion Animal Behavior Program at the University of California at Davis, said she had concerns but no hard-and-fast objections to a service like FlexPetz.

On the positive side, it might give people an easy way to test the ownership waters and keep a few dogs from being euthanized, Bain said. Possible downsides would be irresponsible members who treat the dogs like a lifestyle accessory instead of a living thing.

"It depends on the people and it depends on the animal. Some dogs may be fine and some may become stressed because they are moving from home to home," Bain said. "Perhaps they had a good experience with a good part-time owner and then they get shipped back. What kind of message does that send to kids? That dogs are disposable."

Cervantes said the hour-long sessions FlexPetz members are required to spend with their dog and a trainer before their first outing ensures the dogs are going into caring, competent homes.

Her members, who range in age from 5 to 60-plus, include single women in search of security and a conversation starter, Navy personnel who love dogs but are at sea for much of the year, and seniors who live in apartments where dogs are not allowed.

"Usually, our dogs are lavished with attention, and it's undivided attention from our members because it is the only time they have together," she said. "Some people take a dog home and realize, 'Hey, I can adopt a dog."'

[olebd]

Stupid humans!

[grammawhamma]

This just goes to show how spoiled and irresponsible people are. They want the fun part of having a pet but not the responsibility that goes along with it. Did anyone do the math on the cost of this? If you would rent a dog from this place three days a week for one year the total comes to approx. $6,940.00! How foolish. These people should instead volunteer their spare time at the local humane society.

[kennergirl]

I agree with most of the posts here. The article talks alot about how people feel about "renting a dog" but I can't imagine a dog liking moving from pillar to post like that. I have a dog (a great mini dachshund) and couldn't imagine having to bring her back every day! My kids would kill me.

Maybe my life isn't as busy as these people but I can't imagine how odd that is to "rent" your dog?

[cpaide]

i think this could work for just about anything: spouses, kids, parents, in-laws--you name it!

people here in california are so damned superficial with their relationships anyhow, no one would notice.

[bequialife]

In Hawaii, there is a similar program for people who are on vacation, it is for people "suffering" from "pet separation anxiety". You could actually rent a pet while you are on vacation if you miss your pet at home.

Overall, don't like it. Pets get very attached to their mommies/daddies.

[jetlizhan]

i don't like this concept one bit. a dog needs one owner from the time it's bought, adopted, etc until its death. how sad for the dogs to be shuffled here and there. no, don't like it one bit. i'm totally against it.

[renwoman1]

I know the law thinks of a dog as a commodity but I totally disagree with what she is doing. This can't be good for the dog no matter what she says. I think it'll be very confusing to the dog to have multiple owners and I wish she would reconsider this.

[citizenusa-2009]

A former co-worker of my came up with this idea in 1987. He called it "contract pets" and said it would be especially useful for divorced men who had their kids on the weekend. We laughed until we peed our pants!! Now it's a reality? OMG!!

[petesis]

Thats nice. I cannot imagine why you seem to have problems with men.

[random_radar]

Just like the bumper sticker says: "The more I learn about men, the more I like my dog!"

Men have been patronizing "Escort Services," but there was nothing for women--until now. Now busy women can rent a dog for a companion and forget about men.