I’m the biggest dog lover around, but this is just wrong. Simply wrong. There are companies out there who allow people to rent-a-dog, like time share, such as Flexpetz who has locations in New York, London, San Diego and Los Angeles. Flexpetz allows members to take dogs out for a short period of time. Cost? $100 monthly membership, plus $45 a day.

Luckily Flexpetz has been banned in Boston. At least one city is taking action.

Let’s say you travel a lot for work, but still want to have a dog. You get to take care of the dog while you’re home and then have someone else take care of it while you’re away. They may even call the dog by two different names! That’s just inhumane. Dogs are part of a pack and feel comfortable knowing who’s boss and where they stand in the pack. If you’re constantly changing the dog’s home and owner he’s going to get confused and may act out. This is animal cruely. Where’s PETA when you need them.

Dogs are not toys or accessories. They need to be cared for correctly and that means staying with a person or family that can care for it on a daily basis. Not when it’s convenient in their schedule.

Here’s an excerpt from an article in The Wall Street Journal on the subject by Anjali Athavaley:

For those who just can’t bear to part with their part-time pet, some dog-lending services have come up with creative solutions. At Fairmont hotels in Quebec City, Boston and Vancouver, resident dogs have their own email addresses so that they are available for correspondence afterward. Rita Fortin stayed at the Fairmont in Quebec City in May with her husband while on vacation and was so taken with Santol, Fairmont’s ambassador dog, that she contacted him afterward. “We’ve shared emails, and he’s gorgeous,” says Ms. Fortin, 65, a part-time nurse in Bay City, Mich.

“It’s wonderful that you can live there,” she wrote to Santol. She received a response through email: “I’m glad I got to meet you.” (A Fairmont spokesman says the concierge or another hotel staffer usually answers emails addressed to the K-9 Ambassadors — and tries to write them from the dogs’ perspective.)

Are you kidding me? They share emails with the dog? OMG! You people disgust me. Get a life.

If you see companies like Flexpetz in your city contact your city council to rid them from trying to profit on doggies who need serious homes.

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