What a RIPOFF. So in the first year, if you rented a dog one day a week, with all of the fees and such, you'd be paying about $2000.

Can I rent children, too? I'd like some of my own but I just don't have the time to raise them, you know.

Next up: Doggy Timeshares!

Horrible, absolutely horrible...

A) God, that costs a lot - just borrow a friend's dog...

B) They're right, it's horrible for the dog. Dogs are pack animals - this can't be good. Any well-trained dog is trained to follow an "alpha human".

C) Wait until one of their dogs mauls a toddler...

Wow, this is just sad. Who rents pets?

Easily one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of.

Here's a thought, if you don't have the time or energy to invest in properly housing, training, and caring for a pet then you don't need a pet.

Jeez Louise, Darwin was right.

Lets see. 150 initiation fee + 50 monthly fee + 100 annual fee + 40 x 2 x 4 for 2 days a weekend for 4 weeks of the month + 25 x 5 x 4 days a week for 4 weeks a month = 300 + 320 + 5000 = 5,620 if you keep the dog every day of the month in the first month.

That being said, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Dogs are social, pack creatures, just like humans. What do you think would happen to a kid if he/she was passed around like this. Better yet, what do you think happens to kids who are already bouncing around in foster homes?

Or better yet, if your furniture is too nice and your workday is too long for a pet, why don't you volunteer at an animal shelter on the weekends? Trust me, if you just want to be around dogs for a few hours on the weekend, there are plenty of local shelters desperate for your help! But I guess that doesn't allow the selfish pet-owner-wannabees to walk around in the park with an exotic breed (that someone else trained) and pretend it's theirs. And we all know that's the sort of person who will use this service.

This is the most bizzare thing I've ever heard of. I can only imagine how schizo those dogs must be.

It is hard for me to believe that there are people in this world who don't have any friends with dogs. Plus, even though it sucks getting your floors and carpets peed on, having your own puppy is one of the few great joys in life.

I don't know if this is any different than owning horses that you board at a stable. People are freaking out because it involves dogs.

I don't have time to care for a horse full time, but I would certainly pay someone else to do it.

However, I would never rent a dog.

My four month old German Shorthair is a my second full time job.

I find this incredibly disturbing. I wonder how well they screen their customers... like, can just anyone (*cough*Michael Vick*cough*) rent a dog for the weekend?

@howie_in_az: It's too bad Southwest changed their boarding policy. Otherwise, you could rent a kid or two and board first!

Someplace in Aspen has these deal going too. Here's a better concept with the same result: Some animal shelters will let you visit on the weekends and walk their dogs.

Maxfund in Denver for example does a quick training class. You pop in any weekend, hand them your keys and/or license, and take a dog that needs some attention and exercise in the park or streets.

The caged up dogs get some well needed love, and it's a good way to let people bond with the dogs in hopes they might give them a home.

I'd hit up a stinky rescue center to take a "day dog" before I'd PAY at some posh place. Any other cities have this?

James..

This is terrible. Imagine never having any stability in your life; having to move from one place to another without having any say at all in who is caring for you. This is no life for any creature. This company should have some compassion for living things. If you want a pet, get a pet. If you don't, then don't make one suffer an uneasy existence just for your own selfishness. My heart goes out to these rented living beings.

@harryhoody: You make a good point, but the major difference he is the animal is being passed around on a daily basis. A horse is around the same people every day (groomer, person who cleans the stall etc and the rider) and is in the same stable every day. So its environment isn't changing on a whim.

@Snakeophelia: This is the best idea I have heard. Much better then renting a dog. heck, you can even take shelter ogs for walks at the park. Sure, they probably aren't trained as well as these but it would still be a blast. I think you just convinced me to go play with dogs at the shelter. (I want one really really bad but cant because my building doesn't allow animals, and I think dogs should have lots of space to run around and I cant afford a big house yet)

p.s. I mean stinky in the best way. Snako above is right. The dogs that really NEED you are out there and you're doing a far better service for them and the community in general by volunteering.

Goldfish

@harryhoody: A horse is different. One, you probably can't house one in the middle of an urban area by law. Two, does the horse your boarding change boarding houses every month or maybe even week? Are other people allowed to ride your horse, random strangers willing to pay the boarding house?

Disposable pets! Revolutionary idea! Let's encourage people to reduce their currently-meager attention spans even more!

The only good thing about this is that perhaps this will keep "certain people" from adopting pets, getting tired of them, and dumping them in a shelter.

And even then. On the whole, that's not such a good thing to say.

Also. That is one massively long tongue.

This is not beneficial to the dog. I get the feeling though that the kind of person who is dropping a considerable amount of cash to rent a dog isn't going to be interested in helping at the local shelter and is more interested in a dog that matches their handbag.

If you want some dog time offer to take your friends dog to the park or something.

Horrifying. So wrong. If you want a pet part-time, you should go to them (e.g. by walking a dog at the shelter). Pet outcalls (or is it an incall? I forget my prostitution terminology) are just sick.

Lets see if this business lasts for more than a month

For the bargain price of $20 a month, I'll let you borrow my dog any time you want! You can pick up his crap! You can let him drag you after squirels! He can chew your furniture!

Honestly, how can kennels charge me and arm and a leg to watch my dog when this company is doing EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE and making a fortune?!

Baby sit a friend's cat or dog when they go on vacation for Christ's sakes. Yet one more scheme targeted at people with more money than sense.

If they can send the dog to me through the mail along with a postage-paid return box then I might consider this.

Also, I'd pay a little more if I could have 2 or 3 dogs out at a time.

When can you RENT A KID???

One of the best parts of pet ownership is the bond you share and grow with your pet. This is probably the worst way to do it.

Overall though, it sounds like their way of 'spinning' a pet babysitting business, only that there's multiple owners of the same dog and the business owner is actually getting rich.

Poor dogs though. It sounds pretty cruel.

My dog walker is not going to be happy when I break the news to her that I'm going to start charging her for renting my dog...

@SOhp101: I think you're on to something... Run a pet babysitting business where people pay you to have their animals cared for. Then turn around and rent those "babysat" pets to people who want to rent a pet for a specific period of time. You'd be having two groups of people pay YOU to basically do nothing.

I wonder if I could patent this?

@drgirlfriend: Why thank you!

it might be a neat idea if an animal shelter ran that concept.

How many dogs can I put in my queue before it gets erased and they can't restore it from back up?

@joemono: Great idea. They can call it "Petflix."

Seriously how screwed up must someone be to think this is a good idea?!? These animals are going to go insane. Also, that is an exorbitant amount of money.

"It's a little unfair for people to not have the opportunity to own a pet..."

Could someone explain to me how this is unfair? Being born without arms - that's unfair, in the cosmic sense of things. But being unable to own a pet is almost entirely a result of the would-be owner's choices in terms of a job or residence.

I googled "rent-a-pet" and came up with this program in St Louis:

Stray Rescue's Rent-a-Pet Program
NEW! We have many dogs participating in our new Rent-A-Pet Program. With this program you can foster a pet over the weekend. We supply the pet, food, bowls, leashes, everything!

Have you ever considered fostering a pet, but you weren't quite sure about making a long-term commitment? Have you ever wanted to take home a prospective adoptive pet to see how he fits in with your family? Well now you can! With Stray Rescue's Rent-A-Pet Program, you can take a pet home with you for the weekend. This is a perfect way to try out fostering or adopting a pet (too bad you can't do this with relatives!)

You get to see what fostering is like, while at the same time, helping these wonderful dogs to see what it's like to live with a family and have fun. We supply the food, leashes, bowls, toys, everything; all you supply is the love! There is no charge to rent a pet. Pick up is on Friday nights between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Drop off is on Sunday between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. or Monday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Other times and days can be arranged.

To participate in the program, fill out our foster application, and check the box marked "Rent-A-Pet Program". We will be adding a special application for the program within the next few days.

Listen to the Weekend America report on our 'Rent-A-Pet' program.

Thanks so much for your help and support!!

This a news item from several few months ago. Why is it posted now? Is ABC really giving out 3 month old "news"? Now that IS interesting.

"It's a little unfair for people to not have the opportunity to own a pet..."

"It's a little unfair for people to not have the opportunity to own a pet..."

You DO have the opportunity to own a pet. Take the money you're spending renting dogs, go to an animal shelter, and just get a dog!

What she really means is that it's unfair to expect her have to deal with having a dog all the time just because she wants one.

Oh, I SO wanna say something that would get flagged!

More importantly: how does that dog retract that massive tongue into that smallish-looking head? His mouth can't possibly close.

This is wrong on so many levels. People need to quit treating animals as accessories.

@clickertrainer: I would argue that since most of the responses sound as though this is the first many of us have heard of it, the age of the story doesn't really matter.

@Hawkins: What, you never heard of bull-frogs? :D

This is kinda like when people with kids get divorced, and they split the custody 50/50. Take the quote from above, and replace "Dog" with "Kid", and "Owner" with "Parent"...

It's not healthy for kids to live transient lifestyles and bounce between parents. She said kids that don't form a strong bond with one family often end up becoming aloof and self destructive.

I was thinking the exact same thing, Motoraway. This is the same kind of person you see on the Dog Whisperer that dress their dogs in cute little outfits. Dogs are not fashion accessories or small furry children. People that don't understand this shouldn't be around dogs in the first place.

Sheesh. Be cheaper to pick up a new dog each week at the pound and leave the old one by the dumpster when you don't want it anymore.