Shared Dog Ownership?

[envisionary333]

No time for a pet? How about sharing one? - Small Business - MSNBC.com

I just found this article online. The whole concept is pretty strange to me, what do you guys think of it?

[wickedrodent]

I think its silly.. borderline on crazy.. I mean.. if you dont have time for a dog full time, there is always fostering.. Plus that would keep another pet from being Euthenized.. I dont see the logic in these things somethimes.

Editing:

Ok.. I didnt see the second page until now.. but I still think its silly.. I mean.. why pay all that money when you could foster a dog yourself?

[envisionary333]

I agree. Plus, it seems like this encourages people to avoid taking full responsibility for their pets. When you bring an animal into your life, there are bound to be sacrifices you need to make and emergencies that will come up. You can't just enjoy the benefits without working through the problems as well. Plus, how on earth would you train a dog and get a routine down when someone else might be teaching the dog a whole different set of manners entirely? One person might let the dog on the furniture, and the other might scold the pet for that. It seems like it would be very confusing for the poor dog.

[wickedrodent]

Im sorry, but I really hope they don't make a go of this.. I mean.. if they do have lots of people coming and 'renting' whats next.. cats? guinea pigs? hamsters? This could be traumatizing for the animals as well as dangerous.

[Res Judicata]

It appears that the dogs stay in kennels while not at someone's house. Talk about feelings of abandonment. First you're in a nice place, with people to socialize with you, then suddenly you're taken back to a small cage and maybe a bit of time outside every so often, only to have to go through that all over again.

[MissCin]

I agree. Plus, it seems like this encourages people to avoid taking full responsibility for their pets.

Agreed. I think its crazy. Animals are not objects that you can 'rent' and 'trow' back and forth.

[FoolOnTheHill]

Sounds a bit off to me. I didn't think about the dog having a nice home and then being dumped back at the kennels, but that is a very good point. The whole 'Oh it saves people getting a dog and taking it to the shelter when they get bored' is a bit stupid, I mean who adopts a dog for a day and then takes it back...

And she wants one to come to London. How is she going to keep check on all these areas? She wouldn't know if something was going wrong, or who the people getting the dogs were.

[Jennicat]

Originally Posted by FoolOnTheHill

The whole 'Oh it saves people getting a dog and taking it to the shelter when they get bored' is a bit stupid, I mean who adopts a dog for a day and then takes it back...

You'd be surprised how many people adopt animals and are back within a week for various dumb reasons.

[stubblychin]

If you haven't got time to take a dog on full time, then you shouldnt be getting a dog...

[crazywiggy]

It amazes me that people would fall for such a gimmick...

If you want to be around dogs but can't have one yourself, go to your local rescue and help out there - completely free of charge and you do something really worthwhile in the process!
If a rescue is too far away see if your neighbours or friends have dogs that would appreciate some company or an extra walk when their owners are busy. You certainly don't need to pay an extortionate fee to "rent" a dog.

I also completely agree that the whole idea of renting an animal is sick. Those poor dogs have no routine, no stability, no consistency... just get shunted around from one place to another like a rented movie. I think what bothers me most is that it panders to the "I want it, and I want it NOW" mentality, and causes harm to the animals in the process.