What do you think about this "renting a pet"?

Question

http://www.newsweek.com/id/149438

I think this is a terrible idea. If a person does not have time to devote themselves fully to an animal for as long as they own (OWN) it, they have no business renting an animal when they feel like it, and then giving it back when they're done.

You're never done with a pet! You can't just give it up when you don't have time for it.

I hope that company is put out of business. To quote the closing statement, "Animals are not DVDs."

What do you think - good idea or not?

Answer 1

I think it depends on where the animal lives when it's not being 'rented.' If it had a regular family it returned to and only spent a day or two a week being 'borrowed' then for healthy, well adjusted, out-going dogs, it may not be such a bad thing. My dogs wouldn't mind going out with someone else for the day. They would probably even enjoy it. But, they wouldn't want to spend a whole week with a different family their whole lives..

I know some animal shelters will 'rent' or 'foster' out pets to people that have never owned a pet to make sure they are ready for it. I would much rather have someone rent a pet for a few days that had a family to return to, then buy a pet and give it up in a couple months when they realize they weren't ready for a pet..

I'm not 100% opposed to the idea, it all depends on how it's done and whether the animals spend most of their time with a family that actually owns them between the 'renting.'

Answer 2

it's horrible. dogs need a stable home, just like humans.

Answer 3

How selfish of people to even conceive of such an idea. People who cannot have a pet because they are not at home for long stretches of time can have pets on a short term basis by fostering them for the humane society. Or they can volunteer their time at a shelter to spend time with the animals. That at least helps to a pet get ready for a forever home. The only people who would "rent" a pet would be those who see a pet as an accessory anyway, and those kinds of people really don't need a pet of any sort.

Renting is not the same as fostering. No matter how good a company starts out, when the motive is profit, eventually decisions are made that are more acutely concerned with the bottom line than the welfare of the animal.

Answer 4

ok its a horibble thing but there are things that the people in the service like air force army marinies etc. they rent there pets while there out there fighting for us. im 14 and i have done this. i have baysitted a pet that a air force guy rented to me. but it was for free and i got money for taking care of his dog. but for regukar people to do that... I HATE PEOPLE LIKE THAT. like you said ANIMALS ARE NOT DVD'S!!!!!

Answer 5

This is an awful idea. The way the world is going these days though, i am not surprised. You let pets go from on person to the next, they aren't prostitutes. They become attached to the person as much as the person becomes attached to them.

Terrible idea.

Answer 6

I think it's a bad idea.  If people with no time for pets want to spend time with animals, they should volunteer at an animal shelter.

Answer 7

You are absolutely correct. This business practice is despicable and only seems to focus on the people who wanted pet companionship rather than the pet itself. hate to admit it but the PETA spokesperson is dead right. The dogs especially, (even though are rescues) are seen as commodities rather than living breathing being. The business has place a certain shelf life on them and their value depreciates each year.

What if when the dog gets older, sick, immobilized? What then? Dump them back to the place where they were first rescued? People are always thinking just about themselves and their own need before anything thing else. I don't care if you want to Rent a Designer Bag and get a new one each week, but with a pet there are so many things that needs to be take into consideration.

I am terribly upset that people who rent the pets really think they care for the companion animals. It just goes to proof that society is heading back to the dark ages.

Answer 8

You what?  Whatever next!