Animal rights activists and other opponents argue that it’s unfair to a pet to move him or her from home to home without the chance to bond and have a stable and loving existence. They also say that it sends the message to kids that it’s okay to send something back when you are tired of it. Finally, they stress that there are lots of dogs in animal rescue programs that would better benefit from individuals volunteering to walk them and visit them in their own, consistent setting, rather than paying to take a dog home sporadically, on a whim.

Yet proponents of renting dogs for money point out that the dogs who participate in a shared ownership program receive lots of love and attention from individuals and families who take them in and this offers a great alternative to being in a pound or put to sleep. In addition, many families who share a dog also ultimately find they can make it work on a more permanent basis and some decide to keep one in the end. Supporters also point out that the busy schedules that make pet ownership only a dream for participants also makes it almost impossible to interact with pets in the limited visiting hours available through shelters and pounds. That’s why these people need an option that can be worked around their personal schedules.

Further, when it comes to renting pets, the dogs are supposedly handpicked to be good personality matches to rotate from home to home on a regular basis. In addition, host families must meet certain criteria and must undergo a mandatory training on how to care for the pets before being able to take one home. The dogs who take part in the program receive regular visits to the vet, are well-groomed live in a comfortable and healthy environment with a consistent caretaker and when they are not being taken in for a visit. All of these things are said to benefit the pets and make this a viable option, supporters stress.

What It Costs

At Flexpetz, there are substantial costs that come with membership. All members pay an annual charge of $99.95 to belong, plus a one-time training fee of $150 to cover the cost of a mandatory training session. In addition, they are also responsible for a monthly fee of $49.95. Further, a separate cost ($39.95 daily on the weekends, or $24.95 per weekday) is tacked on for each day (or partial day) that they actually have one of the dogs. As part of these membership fees, participants are provided with all of the tools they will need for the pet visit, including a dog bed, pre-measured dog food, leashes and bowls. There is also an option for pets to be delivered to a participant’s door. The average cost for this transportation is $35 for the roundtrip for each visit.