Rent-a-Pet

I just came across FlexPetz, a service which allows people to pretend they own pets.  This is wrong on so many levels.

Pet ownership is not about being flexible.  It’s about making a commitment to another living thing.  We have enough of a problem with people thinking that animals are disposable as it is – just take a look at any shelter or check out Petfinder and you’ll see how many pets are thrown away every day.  The last thing we need are services that encourage people to put pets in the same category as video and car rentals.

Not to mention how hard this is on the dogs.  It’s stressful on dogs to not have someone they can bond with, to be shuffled around.  My dogs hate when I’m gone and they do respond differently to petsitters and friends than they do to me.  Dogs not only need someone to trust, but they thrive on routine.  Having a new “owner” for a couple hours or a couple days is just a recipe for a dog with issues.  I’ve seen dogs that started out as wonderful pets, but after being abandoned two, three, four times at the shelter, they became very neurotic.  What will FlexPetz do when the dogs they have can’t hack the lifestyle anymore?

If you really need some time with a dog, but know that your schedule or lifestyle won’t work for the real deal, then there are lots of ways you can get interactions in a way that’s beneficial for the dogs involved.  Volunteer at your local shelter as a dog walker or foster home.  Take a neighbor or friend’s dog for walks.  Become a petsitter.  Get a part-time gig at a pet store, groomer, or training facility.

Dogs have always been known for their loyalty, the least we can do is value them a little more than Netflix.