"Rent - A - Dog"?!

[poochadoo]

I tried to insert a link here but couldn't.  For an outrageous story about a "Rent a Dog" business moving into my area, go to www.metrowestdailynews.com and read the artical about "Doggie rentals irk lawmakers". I'm not kidding - rentable dogs, taken from shelters or given up by their owners.  I may be off base here, but this does NOT sit right with me.  I think it's horrible for the dog who will be confused being passed "owner" to "owner" facing new rules and commands - not to mention people who do not know how to treat an animal properly.  Any members here from Montana where this company originates?  Has anyone heard about this? This seems like such a bad idea, bordering on abusive or at least potentially abusive.
I thought it was a joke when I saw the artical the first time, but this is no joke.

[TerriL]

I'm with you.  I think it is absolutely horrible!  Why in the world would ANYONE even THINK about renting a dog?  If you are not willing to commit you need to NOT DO IT!  Animals are not objects.  That really makes me mad!   
I cannot even imagine how confusing and heart wrenching that must be for them.  Poor little babies...to go to a home and then be sent back and to another????? 
It makes me just sick to think of those poor puppers.  What is this world coming to?  I just do not get it.

[Barb]

I have never heard of this - but it just doesn't sound right to me either......  poor babies getting shuffled around.......

[Doxherding Karen]

I wrote this as a response to a comment by a reader named Mike at the site.  But look at it from a different perspective.  It makes some sense in today's age.

"First off, pets don't have more rights.  If Mike Vick had been convicted of strangling, electrocuting or beating to death a person, I think he would have gotten a little more jail time.  This society has become indifferent to the suffering of people and animals both.

Second, "renting" a dog seems like a pricey alternative for families who want the opportunity to connect themselves and their children with a pet - but for various reasons don't have the ability to give it a forever home.  They can spend time on the weekend enjoying the interaction, without having a pet - specifically a dog - stressing at home all week long, waiting for the owner to find free time for it.  Perhaps their landlord or condo association has "No pets" rules.  Perhaps a family member is allergic, and can't handle pet dander in the house. 

At the prices this company is charging, I doubt any animal abuser would sign up.  Why bother when they can get an animal for "free to a good home" in the local newspaper, or from a flyer tacked up to the bulletin board at the supermarket, and abuse it to their hearts content?

I think this is a great idea!"

I truly feel the cost factor will weed out all but the upwardly mobile yuppies who are willing to lay out $280 a month so little Chad and Tiffany can spend Sunday in the park with Fido, and there's no guilt, no housebreaking, no chewing the furniture, etc.

What a Deal!  What a country!  (And I say that dripping with irony!!!)

Karen

[TerriL]

Ah yes Karen, little Chad and Tiffany can grow up with absolutely no understanding of commitment or responsibility whatsoever.    If ya don't like it, you can always trade it in for a new model..or in this case, breed. 
THEN they can grow up and maybe just rent spouses!  Think of the possibilities!   

[auntydoxzz]

I definitely have concerns over the confusion of the puppers!

BUT I currently am doxieless. I rent and my mobility has been really up and down, currently more down.

That said, I need more fingers and toes than I possess to count the number of times I go to Petco, stop the van on the street, or stop if i am walking just to get a couple minutes with a dog. ESPECIALLY if its a doxie.   I will confess, I did have fish in the past and although they say that can lower blood pressure, they are not even in the same world as a doxie is!!     

So guess my viewpoint is I can understand part of the reason for it, BUT do think there are too many problems, UNLESS what we are talking is for instance visiting a dog at their place, or for instance like some motels and hotels do usually with cats.

Auntydoxzz

[MyLittleBoo]

          That is absolutly absurd!!!!!!   I can't even begin to rant or it may turn ugly...  My heart goes out to the puppers...  The poor things!!!   GRRRRRRR!!!  *swear word*   What are they thinking????   *bad word*  Maybe somebody should rent them out....    *cuss word*      Ok, no more ranting for me, my sailor side is coming out!!!   I will pray for them...                                   :xfinger:

[poochadoo]

Okay - I'm glad to see I'm not the only one outraged about this.  I have tried to see the "up" side of this and simply cannot.  True, the cost may weed out potentially abusive people, but at the same time, we've all seen good-hearted dog owners do some pretty stupid (even abusive!) things to their beloved pets.  Its not that they mean harm, it's just that not everyone has the same training technique and "common sense".  I see some horrible situations come of this.  What if a "Rent A Dog" should bite that little Tiffany or Chad?  Do you think Mummy and Daddy will look at the situation and think of it from the dog's point of view?  I think not.  No, what is more probable is that dog will be considered "dangerous" with a propensity to bite and will be put down.  No thought will be given to the dog that it's exhausted, subjected to far too many rules and changing "masters", it's "pack mentality" will be completely warped and it's diet has probaly been altered as often as its new "home".  And once that "bad" dog has been removed from the business, another will be picked up and brought it to its place.
I wonder about the more popular smaller breeds that may be more attractive to "Rent A Dog" people, like doxies, cavaliers, Paris Hilton chihuahuas and the like.  People who do not know dogs assume that small and cute equates with easy and loveable, but as any doxie household can attest to, they are stubborn, pee where they want to, require constant firm and loving discipline and want the BIG bed.  I doubt Tifanny and Chad's mummy and daddy thought about THAT.
This is a baaaaaaaaaad idea and I'm glad to hear the support here.  I think a letter to my Congressman and State Rep is in order.