The potential for abuse is so high its scary. I think its a horrible place and the people who are running the business should be at least investigated.

From what I read in the article about this place, it's not just a site, but a company with two locations in Calif. and they are having so much success that they are soon to be opening a new location in New York. There are many animal welfare [SPAM] that are upset they are doing this, for many of the same reasons that are mentioned here. And they say zoos don't care about their animals...

Oh well thank goodness. That makes it all okay then.

Yes, I'm being sarcastic.

What is with these people? RENTING a dog????

You rent a car....you rent an apartment.....a dog? NO!!

cliff.....

seems like people might not take good care of them since they know its just temporary

Probably not a good idea and potential of abuse... I would rather suggest if people want to spend a little time with animal to go to the local pound and walk and play with a dog.

I don't think its as bad as some here make it out to be.. the site says they have Flexpetz facilities in San Francisco, NYC (3 locations), Seattle, Boston, Miami, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Phoenix, West Palm Beach, Washington D.C. If they have so many facilities, could it really be that bad?

There's also the issue that it has a high potential for abuse, so I dont really know what to think of it.

A quote on the site I find interesting:

Wow! Anywhere I go, I can go to rent-a-dog and show off my new handsome dog! (sarcasm)

I'm thinking I don't like it more than I do, but well see if this company becomes successful or not. If not, they'll most likely be shut down and we'll hear sad stories of the dogs that were abused. I'm sure that would be the worst of scenarios, however.

I guess being a rent-a-pet is better than being euthanized in a shelter somewhere. I do hope that the company screens its renters carefully before renting animals to them.
LTD

:) I would give you all an alternate perspective. My wife and I lost our boy just a little over a year ago and we have been separated from from our female for just about the same length of time. To fill this void we take in foster dogs from the local lab rescue society. We are happy to have a dog in our home and are always sorry to see them leave us. Maybe these people rent the dogs because they long for the companionship but are not in a position to have a dog full time.

good point

I agree...with everyone.

Um, I think that this could be either a good thing or a very bad thing. It can be emotionally abusive to the dogs involved, but it is better than rotting away in the pounds. The dogs are exposed to more people that may not care for them as they should, and that is bad. Some people love dogs but can't have them. Maybe they will find their perfect dog and adopt it from this company once they CAN have one.

I don't know exactly how I feel about this company.

It is strange and innovative to say the least.

I don't like the idea of this. You never know what might happen to one of them. And I don't see how a peson could be willing to let someone else just take their animal. It's not something I would ever do.

sometimes I just love playing the devils advocate... even though I cant imagine 'renting' a dog I can see what they are trying to do...

senerio #1.. in walks Jane Doe... lawyer who works 12- 16 hours a day.. barely has time for herself let alone a canine pal she so desires... maybe she grew up with a special dog and she misses the companionship she had with him... she is smart enough to know that getting a dog at this point in her life will not be a good idea as she wouldnt be spending anytime at all with him... but here it finally comes a nice week long vacation that she has been planning for months.. she doesnt want to leave town.. but she wants that companionship she has been missing for years... she wants a dog to play with and cuddle with ... how is that bad??? do you think she should be robbed of her chance to share her love with that adorable black lab Jackpot???


senerio #2 .... John Doe lost his beloved dog 6 months ago.. he is still grieving but god how he misses taking a dog on a walk along the beach.. playing catch with him in the backyard... but he isnt sure his heart can take it not sure if he can get another pal... then he hears about this site... and wonders... and wonders... next thing you know he has set up an appointment with them... and is going to have his first visit in 2 weeks... maybe this will let him know it is time to get himself another dog??? maybe this will help him deal with the grief he has been feeling all the more lately??? maybe this is just the thing he needs .. so he can move past the grief and remember the love he had for rufus... and so his heart can heal...

senerio #3 ... Mr and Mrs Smith never had a dog growing up... both of them wanted one sooooooooo bad but their parents didnt allow them to have one for whatever reason... now here they are thinking about getting a dog... but they know that it is as big of a decision as having a baby... they know this will change their lives drastically... so instead of going to the pound and rescuing a dog .. only to find out it isnt cut out for them... they set up a couple visits with one of these lovable dogs... and see if it is a step they want to take... they see if it is a good idea to get a dog...


those are only a couple senerios I can think of.... I would venture to guess that this site has guidelines to make sure their dogs will not be spending their time with someone that will abuse them... though I havent devled that far into it... I am also 100% sure that is one of their dogs is abused(god forbid!) that they will do everything possible to make that person pay to the fullest extent of the law...

my 2 cents :blush:

I just dont see that working out to well

Wild I'll see your 2 cents
and raise you 2 cents.

If one is a GSD and hole I/ll rais you 4 cents..
into the bush.............ok

We leased horses to people who could not aford or were not in a possision to own one. Usually on our property and usually bread mares who needed a child to love them and ride them till foaling..
It worked out well for both horse and rider..

We have leased a horse to own under contract and been happy with the outcome..

do I hear 6 cents?

Rus

Very insightful post, Wyld. I agree that there are several legitimate reasons why someone would want to temporarily take care of a dog, even if for a small amount of time.

I checked the website again, and I get the impression that the company aims to milk a lot of money out of their memberships.

-Start with the $150 mandatory introductory fee. Only a one time payment though.
-The length of membership is 12 months. The monthly membership fee is $39.95. Multiply that by 12 months, that comes to $479.40.
-Members agree to use a minimum of 2 days every month with a dog, and is required to pay the base fee for this time regardless of if they actually took a dog or not. At $19.95 per day, for 2 days, for 12 months, this comes to a $478.80.
-There is a $99.95 annual account maintenance fee. This is what struck me the most bizarre. A hundred bucks just to keep your name and information in a computer?

So consider a person wants to use this company to try out a dog to see if it can be worked into their lifestyle. They only plan to sign up for one year. If I calculate correctly, this comes out to a combined fee of $1208.15. That doesn't count any applicable taxes or extra charges for dog shipping or weekend rentals. That also doesn't to take into consideration if the person is interested in keeping a dog for more days or for longer periods of time.

Given all that, it seems a bit unlikely to me that average Joe Somebody would be willing to fork out that much money unless they were committed to the entire year. Obviously, if it's important enough to someone, they might be willing to pay that sum. Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm a little too strict on spending my money, but I think the cost is sure to put off a lot of people who were only wishing for a small experience to test the waters with a new dog.

This post has been edited by ZetterGRD on Jun 10 2007, 12:40 AM