Rent-a-Dog

Or maybe this is more like a Doggie Time Share.

Bear with me, this is not as weird as it sounds.

A new California company, Flexpet, is an alternative to full time dog ownership. A person may not have the time or suitable living arrangements, may travel extensively, or may have any number of reasons not to take full time responsibility for a dog.

So here’s how Flexpet works: After paying a registration and membership fees, members can choose to spend hours or days with their choice of dogs. There are various breeds and mixed breeds to choose from. The dogs have all vaccinations and are given health check ups by a veterinarian every three months. They are trained in obedience and some are certified as therapy dogs. Each is fitted with a GPS device. All food and treats are supplied.

And here is the best part: All of the Flexpet dogs are rescued or rehomed dogs. Part of the money members pay goes to rescuing and training new dogs that otherwise might be destroyed.

These are the costs:

§ A registration fee of $150 covers a one-hour session with a trainer.
§ An annual maintenance charge of $99.99
§ A monthly membership fee of $49.95
§ A time charge of $39.95 weekends and $24.95 weekdays.

Flexpet is currently available in Los Angeles and San Diego, but new locations are scheduled to open soon in Manhattan, San Francisco, and London.

More information on Flexpet

Comments

[Becky]

Maybe a background check on the prospective members may be in order too?

Otherwise it sounds like a nice program. I like that there is training time included with the membership fee.

Some people are dog lovers, but just dont have time for them. I think those people are actually using their brains, instead of getting a dog, and locking it up all the time, because they are never home.

Love that they are using rescue dogs for it too.

[Simply Jenn]

How wonderful for people who can't have a pet of their own. What a great idea!

[Tina]

People might think that is expensive, but there are a lot of hidden expenses to having a dog. Also this would weed out those not serious.

[jackie]

hmmm. wonder if i can time share out little asshole?...

[jan]

Jackie,
I think you might market that adorable kitten better if you would change his name.
jan

[thinkoffthefat]

Hi Jan, I sure miss reading your blog. Still no computer, but I'm not going to give up trying. Hope your family is well. Bless you all and have a great forth of July.

[schnoodlepooh]

That's actually a pretty good idea to make the people pay. You would think that if they're spending good money for it, they would be fairly serious about taking care of the dog. I would just worry about the dog being confused - who to bond to, where's my real home, etc. But it's a great idea to rescue dogs and smart for people who realize they wouldn't make good full time dog parents.

[Chandira]

Ah! Awesome.. Maybe I WILL be a dachshund-mommy one day after all.. Robert couldn' exactly argue with that arrangement, could he? How cool.

I have also been thinking of posting signs in the neighbourhood, advertizing dog-walking. That's a pretty good low-level committment too. I'd never have the time to be a full-time dog person, and that would feel bad.

[AuthorMomWithDogs]

This is already common in Japan.

I, too, wonder about the effects on the dog.

Maybe the alternative is to have a dog farm where the dogs always stay "home" and are cared for by the same person/people, and instead the people come to the farm to be with their "rent-a-dog".

[Carolyn]

It's quite a concept. I wonder how many guys would use it as a way to attract women with a cute puppy by their side, lol!

I think it would work nicely for parents to see how their kids might take care of a pet for a month before actually getting them one.

[pam]

Wellllll ... I guess it could work ...

Hey, my vet's office wanted $110 to board my two dogs for the weekend. I wonder if I could rent out my dogs instead? Hmm. Now who do I know who loves cute little chihuahuas ...?

[Laura]

Actually, that sounds like a good concept. I agree that there needs to be a background check, though.

[Big_Dave_T]

I'd be willing to rent out our mutt. Heck, some days I'd let you have him for a day. In, out, in, out, give me a treat, give me a treat, I don't care if it's 3 a.m.--I want to go out.

You get the picture.

[Palm Springs Savant]

great blog...I met a beautiful standard poodle last week names Miss Peaches, who is pictured on a bag of dog food. She was such a sweet poodle. Anyway, I have a photo of her on my blog today. sto pby and check her out, she's quite beautiful.
http://www.rickrockhill.blogspot.com

[Sling]

What a cool idea!..Good for the people,and good for the dog.

[pam]

But what if the renter mistreats the dog? Who's going to know? It's not like the dog can file a complaint.

[Coll]

Sounds like a win/win program. I once leased a horse for the summer. It was kind of a similar situation.

[girlanddog]

Wow, pretty expensive. You can volunteer at your local pet shelter for free and play with the dogs every day (I used to do that when I couldn't have a dog). I'm not sure how I feel about humans making money off of the dogs, but I guess if the alternative was having to put them to sleep, it's acceptable. But still... Some breeds of dogs (like labs) bond more tightly with ONE particular human and NEED that knowledge that they have only one human to respond to. Don't know how dogs would feel about the situation they're placed in.

[Dr. Dare Miller]

Ok, I hit post before I could finish. My last sentence was supposed to be:

I expect Flexpet to be ready to aid in permanent adoptions.

[Dr. Dare Miller]

Jan, I see that my first comment never went through. Anyway, here's what I really wanted to say:

Dogs are so endearing and just awfully good at seeking kindred spirits. Once the dog is recognized for this, it is highly likely that the "temporary" owners might just want to become permanent ones.

[Animals are not toys to be handed around.]

Animals are not "toys" to be handed around to JQP. How confusing & depressing for the animal/dog. They wake up & think: "I have a home & person to love" They take a nap, wake up & think: "Where did that all go, was it a dream?"

Dogs are "pack-animals" by nature, and the special person in their lives is part of their familial "pack".
Personally I think it is cruel. I really don't expect this comment to go through because there are no "con" comments above.
As far as I am concerned there is no "pro" to this idea.

[Disgusted]

This is disgusting and WRONG!!! I cannot believe how utterly disgusted I am reading this! Anyone subscribing to renting a dog is a cruel human being. Just plain sick! This whole concept is immoral.