Rent a Dog? No Way!
It was first a snippet of an item on the local tv evening news then a few days later, an interview on a local radio station – a rent-a-dog service!
It seems that the growing doggie business, now racing towards the $40 Billion mark in the US alone, knows no bounds. I have no problem with the growing list of upscale services for our favorite furry friends, collars and leads accentuated with bling, spas that offer not only grooming but exercise and massage, and country club style stays for those times when travel with pet parents is not possible. The demarcation line between caring and spoiling is a blurry and moving target, but as far as I can see it, there is no harm done to the dog.
But Rent-a-Dog? I went to the web site to confirm what I thought I was hearing – yup, you might as well call it rent-a-dog. The site spins a good yarn about the benefits of such a service and I must admit that the woman who was being interviewed on the radio show, was most convincing that the dogs they rent out are the beneficiaries of this business in that they are all “re-homed” and are now well cared for. The market is people who love dogs but who are unable to own them – residency restrictions, long and/or frequent absences, or just plain not ready to take on the responsibilities of dog ownership.
Temporary ownership is country club membership driven:
Annual maintenance fee $99.95, monthly fee $49.95 – that is just a shade off $700 annually. On top of that there is a one time fee of $150 and a daily fee of $24.95 for weekdays and $39.95 for weekends. Not exactly chump change.
To me this instant gratification of temporary doggie companionship service smacks more of our growing penchant for pleasure without responsibility rather than the responsible response to a growing need that the business would have you believe it is.
You see I have a bit of a problem with treating any living thing like a piece of meat. Equate this to a human situation. How about providing services to a market that would like to spend some time with children, but does not have the time nor the inclination to have their own … well why not set up a Flexchild service? Go watch the kid shows, attend the Nutcracker Suite, have fun at the local splashdown park – and then voila, the day of fun has ended, child safely delivered to the doorstep of the service. Not enough time to develop friendships? Never mind, Flexfriend to the rescue. Go the mall, the movie, a party with a rented friend. Of course you get to choose – do you want to be seen as uber cool with an attractive friend? Lacking for a date? Well I think the escort services have already done that one to the max.
Dogs are sociable animals. They form a bond with their humans, the family they live with. I’m not sure how a revolving “family” would play out in the dog’s psyche. I don’t know. Does the dog in residence learn to play cute and loving on demand knowing that such is the way to a warm and lovely bed? To treats? In that the dog has a “regular” home to return to does it then just view the temporary human and lodging as part of a job? Does this then become a working dog? Even in the dog working world, dogs are partnered with the same human for reasons of stability and compatibility.
Here are my thoughts. If you are truly a lover of dogs but do not have the time or ability to own one, do yourself and a lot of hardworking people a favor: volunteer at the local animal shelter, take a dog or two out for a walk. The staff will be ever so grateful and the dogs will reward you with adoring eyes and sloppy kissies. The money that you would be paying for renting a dog? Donate that to worthy organizations. In addition to the local animal shelter there are plenty of rescue organizations that go to great lengths to find a good home for newly homeless dogs – a home that really wants the dog, has the time and space for it and will lavish the love and care that we all deserve, dogs and humans alike.
It seems that the growing doggie business, now racing towards the $40 Billion mark in the US alone, knows no bounds. I have no problem with the growing list of upscale services for our favorite furry friends, collars and leads accentuated with bling, spas that offer not only grooming but exercise and massage, and country club style stays for those times when travel with pet parents is not possible. The demarcation line between caring and spoiling is a blurry and moving target, but as far as I can see it, there is no harm done to the dog.
But Rent-a-Dog? I went to the web site to confirm what I thought I was hearing – yup, you might as well call it rent-a-dog. The site spins a good yarn about the benefits of such a service and I must admit that the woman who was being interviewed on the radio show, was most convincing that the dogs they rent out are the beneficiaries of this business in that they are all “re-homed” and are now well cared for. The market is people who love dogs but who are unable to own them – residency restrictions, long and/or frequent absences, or just plain not ready to take on the responsibilities of dog ownership.
Temporary ownership is country club membership driven:
Annual maintenance fee $99.95, monthly fee $49.95 – that is just a shade off $700 annually. On top of that there is a one time fee of $150 and a daily fee of $24.95 for weekdays and $39.95 for weekends. Not exactly chump change.
To me this instant gratification of temporary doggie companionship service smacks more of our growing penchant for pleasure without responsibility rather than the responsible response to a growing need that the business would have you believe it is.
You see I have a bit of a problem with treating any living thing like a piece of meat. Equate this to a human situation. How about providing services to a market that would like to spend some time with children, but does not have the time nor the inclination to have their own … well why not set up a Flexchild service? Go watch the kid shows, attend the Nutcracker Suite, have fun at the local splashdown park – and then voila, the day of fun has ended, child safely delivered to the doorstep of the service. Not enough time to develop friendships? Never mind, Flexfriend to the rescue. Go the mall, the movie, a party with a rented friend. Of course you get to choose – do you want to be seen as uber cool with an attractive friend? Lacking for a date? Well I think the escort services have already done that one to the max.
Dogs are sociable animals. They form a bond with their humans, the family they live with. I’m not sure how a revolving “family” would play out in the dog’s psyche. I don’t know. Does the dog in residence learn to play cute and loving on demand knowing that such is the way to a warm and lovely bed? To treats? In that the dog has a “regular” home to return to does it then just view the temporary human and lodging as part of a job? Does this then become a working dog? Even in the dog working world, dogs are partnered with the same human for reasons of stability and compatibility.
Here are my thoughts. If you are truly a lover of dogs but do not have the time or ability to own one, do yourself and a lot of hardworking people a favor: volunteer at the local animal shelter, take a dog or two out for a walk. The staff will be ever so grateful and the dogs will reward you with adoring eyes and sloppy kissies. The money that you would be paying for renting a dog? Donate that to worthy organizations. In addition to the local animal shelter there are plenty of rescue organizations that go to great lengths to find a good home for newly homeless dogs – a home that really wants the dog, has the time and space for it and will lavish the love and care that we all deserve, dogs and humans alike.
posted by Valentina at 3:35 PM
1 Comments:
Absolutely
TRAVELSAPIEN absolutely agrees. Rent a dog? Come on that is like rent a kid. Oh right. They do that don't they. How pedestrian and unbefitting those creatures of comfort and those that always agree with you no matter your spirit they remain loyal. Dogs deserve better than a Rent a car plate. Right on! Next I have some goldfish for you. Oh darn they do that too. When will this all end. Is there a tax deduction when renting?
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