Pet Rental Business

[james.hendrickson]

This just occurred to me this morning. People need pets, but not everyone wants one full time. Why not get a pet rental business? You could offer dogs and cats plus all their supplies for a limited time - say 3 or 6 months in return for a profit.

This could work in bigger markets like San Francisco, LA, NY or DC.

[disneysteve]

The animal rights folks would have a field day with that proposal, treating animals as property to be rented out and shuttled around from house to house.

I'm not a big animal lover and even I think that's a horrendous idea.

[amastewa93]

You could pair it with Tinder and call it Pinder.

[bjl584]

My dog is a part of my family. I couldn't image renting him out or anyone renting a dog. I couldn't support an idea like that. No way.

[creditcardfree]

I also think that is terrible. Pets deserve better treatment than being moved to a new environment every three to six months! If you can't handle a pet for longer than that, you should not have a pet at all.

[msomnipotent]

I remember reading about a business that did that a long time ago. It didn't last long. People and pets get attached to each other.

[Fishindude77]

Actually isn't a bad idea. Could work good with the right kind of dogs.
Lots of people enjoy having a pet around for short periods of time but can't keep one full time for one reason or another.

If the client gets attached to the pet they could have the option to buy.

There are thousands of pets being euthanized daily at shelters. This might be an opportunity to save a few.

[bjl584]

Actually isn't a bad idea. Could work good with the right kind of dogs.
Lots of people enjoy having a pet around for short periods of time but can't keep one full time for one reason or another.

If the client gets attached to the pet they could have the option to buy.

There are thousands of pets being euthanized daily at shelters. This might be an opportunity to save a few.

Dogs are social animals. They choose an alpha (master) Moving them around will give them anxiety.

Maybe people could rent goldfish, but that's about where I'd draw the line.

[disneysteve]

Somebody who views a dog or cat as a thing to be rented when it's convenient and then returned when it's not shouldn't be permitted to have one.

[Outdoorsygal]

Last time we went thru Hollywood, I saw a pet hotel. My assumption was the affluent were using it as doggy daycare while they worked.
I imagined the dogs being fed high quality food, being walked and socialized.

There is a company here who rents out goats. They eat people's weeds.
He has no where to store them so stops off at people's houses in between jobs to ask if they want his goats to eat their weeds for free.
PG&E uses him, or he gives them his services at no cost, not sure.

[scfr]

Dogs are social animals. They choose an alpha (master) Moving them around will give them anxiety.

Maybe people could rent goldfish, but that's about where I'd draw the line.

There was a hotel in Seattle (I don't know if it's still there or still offers this service) that offered hotel guests a little fish bowl with one fish to keep them company during their stay and I thought that was a cute idea. Fish tanks are stress reducers. Maybe a business could partner with a hospital to offer a service to patients (if the patient or their family were willing to pay for it)?

But dogs or cats, no way!
What I do support is shelters that offer "foster a dog for a weekend" promotions in the hopes that the dogs will get some socialization and a break from the shelter or possibly get adopted. But that obviously is not for profit.

[Fishindude77]

I find it pretty interesting how many people put dogs & cats on nearly the same level as human life.

I grew up in a farming area, everyone had dogs and cats around. They weren't mistreated, but they lived outdoors and slept in a doghouse or warm spot in the barn, rarely saw a vet, almost never got a bath, chased and killed varmints, ran loose around the yard, played with the kids, helped with livestock, etc. Seemed like they were as happy, healthy and friendly as any of these modern day, indoor, lap dogs & cats.

[sv2007]

I remember reading about a business that did that a long time ago. It didn't last long. People and pets get attached to each other.

That's even better; the next times they rent the same pet, just charge more and more.
Is that how drug dealers work? Frist sample is always free? Maybe this pet rental should go that route too.

Environmentally friendly too. If you have a feral cat problem, just rent some vicious dogs; no need for cat poison that furry rats might accidentally eat.

[DaveInPgh]

The basis of the concept already exists, just not on the level where you actually take your rental pet home.

At the Meow Parlour in New York City, you can "rent time to relax with our free roaming cats." A concept that

http://www.meowparlour.com/

The Dog Cafe in LA takes reservations for 55 minute appointments for $10

http://www.thedogcafela.com/

Both encourage adoptions, but they are indeed renting them (in cafe).

As for the exact idea in the OP, I do not think it is a good one. And perhaps worded poorly. People that want pets and are able to have them, typically do. There is definitely an attachment factor that I don't think any animal lover would want to bring home a pet only to give it back after a rental period is up.

Based on what I have read on the subject, I expect the Cafe business model to grow.

[HundredK]

There were plenty of pet cafes when we visited Japan. But renting animals out for months at a time is brutal, I'm disappointed to even see such a suggestion. Dogs need lifetime homes. Anyone who wants that kind of interaction can always sign up to be a foster and bring a little temporary love to a pet who is looking for a lifetime home. Really disappointing to even see this suggestion.