Los Angeles/Sydney - A controversial new programme is already giving overworked dog lovers in the United States a new way to be a pooch's best friend but without having to commit themselves. Perhaps it's just too hard to make the choice between a big strapping German shepherd, an elegant Afghan hound or tiny Jack Russell terrier?
Rather than owning a canine and leaving it alone during the work day, dog lovers in Los Angeles and San Diego are renting a pet by the hour.
The company providing this novel new service is called FlexPetz and is set to open new locations this month in San Francisco, New York, London and Sydney.
The programme is designed to appeal to well-healed urbanites with more money than time. Initial sign-up fees come to 150 dollars, monthly membership is 50 dollars, each visit costs 40 dollars and there is an annual account maintenance fee of 100 dollars.
Additional offers include delivery and retrieval for 17.50 dollars each way.
That seems like a lot of money to spend for a part-time pet, but Marlena Cervantes, the founder of the new service, says the system works like a timeshare on a holiday home and is good value. You get what you pay for and the total cost is split among a group of renters.
"It's for people who love dogs but are unable to own full time, so we connect the dog lovers with dogs that need a home," she says, adding,"It's guilt-free, worry-free, equipment-free."
Membership entitles you to a free package that includes a dog bed, food and water bowls and a custom leash. For each night that members plan to keep a dog, Flexpetz provides pre packed food.
The dogs are usually rescued from animal shelters and undergo comprehensive training courses before being unleashed on their new owners. When not doing sleepovers, the dogs are kept in luxurious kennels and receive close veterinary care.
All Flexpetz dogs are fitted with GPS-tracking collars to ensure they can be located in the event they decided to go for a walk on their own.
Cervantes says it's a perfect solution to the hectic schedules that many dog lovers have to follow.
"Our members are responsible in that they realize full-time ownership is not an option for them and would be unfair to the dog," said Cervantes, 32, a behavioural therapist who got the idea while working with pets and autistic children.
"It prevents dogs from being adopted and then returned to the shelter by people who realize it wasn't a good fit."
Erica Lupercio, who regularly takes charge of a black Labrador called Rupert, says the programme is the perfect complement to her busy lifestyle.
"We do lots of fun stuff and we mooch around the house," she says. "I don't have the time to spend with the pet at home so it would be really unfair to the pet to sit at home alone. Being a part owner like this is great."
But John Snyder of the Humane Society, is less enthusiastic about the impending dawnof rent-a-dog like his soulmates down under.
"Pets are not like bicycles that you can rent for two hours," he said. "We just don't think this is in the best interests of the animal. We are concerned about different owners, different training and different handling."
Viviene Petersen, a dog trainer in Sydney, worries that multiple owners could lead to serious behavioural problems.
She said dogs crave a routine, a settled environment, and could be traumatized by being passed from person to person.
