Dec 17, 2007 11:38 am US/Eastern
Company To Offer Dogs For Rent In Boston
BOSTON (CBS) ―
No time for a dog? How about renting a pooch part-time?
That's exactly what a new company is planning to bring to Boston in 2008.
California based "FlexPetz" is coming to the Hub this spring.
"FlexPetz is a flexible dog ownership program for people who love dogs but are unable to own dogs full time," says Marlena Cervantes of FlexPetz.
To join, there's a monthly membership fee and you have to be screened and trained. After that, for a daily fee, you can take a pet out for a few hours or up to a week. However it's not cheap. They charge a monthly membership fee of $49.95 that "contributes towards providing full care for all dogs at each FlexPetz location." There is also an annual account maintenance charge of $99.95; and you have to pay a one-time fee of $150.00 during registration to cover the cost of an "introductory session" with a company dog trainer. Lastly there's the "Daily Doggy Time charge", of $39.95 for weekends and $24.95 plus tax for weekdays just for renting a dog.
There's also a $75.00 late fee if your canine companion isn't returned on the last day of the reservation period.
According to their website, members have access to a variety of dogs, all of whom are "rescued or re-homed, very lovable and fully trained." You can spend anywhere from a few hours to several days with each of the dogs in the program, and "dogs are available in varied breed sizes to ensure compatibility with our member's individual lifestyles and unique circumstances." All dogs are between two and three years old because by that age they "have developed their personalities and have been properly socialized."
The company provides food, toys, a bed, custom leash and all vet care. According to their website all dogs are given a full physical every three months, and regular "refresher" training sessions.
All dogs have a special GPS tracking collar, in the event that a dog and member become separated. It also has an "environmental temperature sensor" that alerts the company if the dog's surroundings "fall outside of a predetermined safety range."
If you can't make it to a FlexPetz location to pick up and drop off a dog, they do offer a shuttle service. Fees vary by location but are usually about $17.50 for a single trip or $35.00 for a pick up and drop off.
The FlexPetz program says all the dogs would otherwise be homeless: "We're connected with our dogs through local rescue groups and shelters. We also are connected with dogs that are retired show dogs and retired studs," said Cervantes. Not everyone thinks the service is good however. Animal rights groups say the dogs come from shelters and need homes. The humane society believes FlexPetz may have good intentions, but agree that pets should not be rented. "Pets are not like bicycles you rent them for 2 hours. We just don't think that's in the best interest of the animal," said John Snyder of the Humane Society.
It's all the adjusting the animal has to do that worries Snyder and others like him: "We're concerned about different owners, different training, and different handling."
FlexPetz argues that their members get the same training and provide an extended family for the animal. The company says all dogs live with a primary "carer" and their pack of FlexPetz dogs, where they "happily play and are never kenneled." According to their website, if a member's situation changes where they have ample time and means to care for a dog, the company is happy to discuss adoption.
FlexPetz already has locations in New York, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Besides Boston they plan to open new locations in San Francisco, Washington D.C., and London all in 2008.
To learn more you can check out their website flexpetz.com.
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