prairiefire
Western Wisconsin
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Posts:409
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| 07/30/2008 3:23 PM |
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I saw this on another message board and was so struck by the idiocy of this concept, I had to share it. Check out FlexPetz--where for a few hundred dollars a month, you can bounce a rescue from home to home... |
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DesertRoseKennel
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Posts:1033
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| 07/30/2008 3:28 PM |
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This is ridiculous. What's next? We rent kids out?? I don't even have words... |
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"Our dogs are bred to be champion hunters who sleep on the bed"
www.desertrosekennel.com |
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carlower1
Kansas
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Posts:1253
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| 07/30/2008 3:57 PM |
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My main concern with this concept...
I have seen how badly people treat my rental properties (last renter did over $6,000 worth of damage), and how people treat hotel rooms.. so how badly will these poor animals be treated?
Carrie |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
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Posts:6938
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carlower1
Kansas
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Posts:1253
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| 07/30/2008 7:02 PM |
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Posted By Texas Belle on 07/30/2008 5:30 PM
I understand the concern, but if this is done right it could be a good solution for someone who is getting older and would love to have a pet around, but is afraid to own one outright in case they die and end up leaving the dog alone. I know a lady that lives next to my mom who is almost 80 and loves animals, but she is afraid to own one for fear of something happening to her and then the dog wouldn't have a home. Of course there are a thousand challenges that would have to be worked out to make this safe and good for the dog.
Good points Bella,
My neighbor is in is 80's as well and earlier this year their poodle had to be put down, then his wife died 3 months later. The daughter brought in a rescue border collie mix, and explained that she needed him to keep the dog for a little bit. Bleau is now my neighbor's dog but his daughter is co-owner for when something does eventually happen to him (the dog is only a few months old)
Carrie |
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prairiefire
Western Wisconsin
MH
Posts:409
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| 07/30/2008 11:07 PM |
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That's a great point, TB. But did you check out the membership page? I did the math and your first year costs to rent a pet would include:
-$99 annual admin fee
-a minimum of (4) $45 daily "usage" fees/mo=$2160
-a monthly membership fee of $99.95/mo=$1199.40
-and a one-time handler training fee of $150.00
Total = $3608.40 for the first year!
And that's provided you only kept the dog for four days a month. If you wanted the pet with you on a more regular basis, the price would go up exponentially. (This also doesn't include delivery charges, which--if you were unable to pick-up the dog yourself--would add an additional $50 per visit for a first year total of $6008...again, for the minimum of 4 visits per month.) The sort of situation you describe would be exorbitantly expensive. I can't imagine that too many people living on a fixed income could afford something like that.
And I also wonder how many rescue dogs could handle the stresses of bouncing from "owner" to kennel to "owner" 6, 7, or 8 times a month. And possibly with someone new every time?
It seems to me that their best interests lay in lining their pockets, not in what's best for the dogs (or the people who want to share their lives with them).
Now, if there was some sort of organization that was able to bridge that gap between rescues and the elderly, I'd be 100% all for that! |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
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Posts:6938
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MegC
Ellensburg, WA
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Posts:988
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| 07/31/2008 8:15 AM |
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I'm not terribly hip about 'bouncing' a dog multiple times a month either (and good heavens on the prices!!!!), but I'm laughing at the 'rent-a-dog' thread title and the resulting explanation because leasing or borrowing a dog happens frequently in mushing circles. We've had a couple at our place for the season and it's worked out wonderfully for everyone.
Obviously not all dogs are suited to this sort of thing, but I'm always amazed at how fast many dogs learn to love their new digs. There are even dogs that through their life rotate between a few places because of work/vacation schedules, breeding programs, training, etc. and they definately recognize these familiar places and immediately slip themselves right in. So much for loyalty- lol!
I guess the sort of thing I'm referring to is less 'rent-a-dog' and more 'dog sharing'. As Bev points out there are some real advantages to the idea and I wish it was an option for more people. |
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Megan
+ Dulcie (Lehmschlog's The Right Spot) + Rogan (Lehmschlog's BR Rogan) + Anya (Lehmschlog's Anya O Conchobar)
Intro to harness sport/mushing- start here! |
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prairiefire
Western Wisconsin
MH
Posts:409
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| 07/31/2008 8:52 AM |
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Part of what bothers me is the frequency that these dogs would be circulated. Back about a million years ago, I used to ride. And when I found myself horseless the summer before I left for college, I did lease a horse--but that was a much longer-term situation. My sister also had a shared lease with another girl. But in that case, the horse stayed put and the two girls came to Ginger (who was always under the watchful eye of her owner).
I don't have a problem with a lease situation. After I sadly had to put my own horse down, I wouldn't have been able to ride otherwise. And it was a great opportunity for my sister to find out if riding was really for her. But a more permanent, stable lease strikes me as a very different situation than the one described on this website. And at those prices, who could afford to have a pet longterm? It would send you to the poorhouse!
I'm curious if any of you that are involved in rescue would consider placing one of your dogs in a situation like this? Maybe I'm overreacting, but something about this website really rubbed me the wrong way... |
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Diamond
Southwestern Ontario
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Posts:349
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| 07/31/2008 9:51 AM |
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Darn I had that idea first!!  |
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carlower1
Kansas
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Posts:1253
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| 07/31/2008 12:45 PM |
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I am big on dog sharing, we have done that a lot of times with my grand mother when she was pet-less a family member would approach her with the story of "I can no longer care for.." an older dog. NOW the dog was always acquired with the idea that she would end up caring for it once it was trained, house broken and calmed down, and by the time she "rescued" the dog it was 2 to 4 years old and she would keep it until it passed away. When I was in college and in the army I couldn't have a pet, so I would borrow one from someone I knew on a regular basis.. but the dog always went home. I do know a couple of people through the Kennel club who co-own several large dogs, and it seems to work out for them. Meanwhile. I am older and have learned that I don't share my books, music, movies or puppies very well.. People NEVER return things in as good of shape as I lone them out in.
Carrie |
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Ace1cappuccino
Carp Lake, Michigan
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Posts:1618
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| 07/31/2008 7:24 PM |
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I think it isn't a good idea. JMO - It can't be good for the poor dog to keep going from owner to owner. Putting them into the stress of a new pack and then ripping it away just when it gets settled, then into another. Maybe it would be nice for people to have one but I think it would have serious problems for the dog. You know how puppies are when pulled from their litter, how a dog is when you get it from the pound. They are all scared and timid, hiding, etc.. By the time the poor thing is starting to get used to someone it moves again.
I just think it isn't right and I wouldn't want to put the poor dog through it. That's my 2 cents worth anyways. |
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Cornell's GSP'S- Mocha cappuccino, Lili Belle Lotte, Sir Leopold Vom Hunter 1, Lil Miss Lotte Doddi, Ace Hunter Twisted Mister(GSP'S)  
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prairiefire
Western Wisconsin
MH
Posts:409
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| 07/31/2008 7:54 PM |
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Posted By carlower1 on 07/31/2008 12:45 PM
People NEVER return things in as good of shape as I lone them out in.
That's so funny. A very good friend of mine was kind enough to send me home with some wonderful homemade soup. Do you think she ever got her containers back? We joke that you can trust me with your deepest, darkest secrets--just not with your tupperware. 
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carlower1
Kansas
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Posts:1253
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| 07/31/2008 8:46 PM |
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LOL Prairiefire Yeah my mom always told me .. rule of thumb... lend out rubbermaid not tupperware!
Carrie |
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MegC
Ellensburg, WA
MH
Posts:988
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| 07/31/2008 8:53 PM |
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You know, now that I think about it, I believe we could have wonderful fun getting a real life "The Renting of Red Chief" reality TV show out of the deal if some of us leased our GSPs out. *
*For those not familiar with the classic "Ransom of Red Chief" tale, it's overwhelmingly worth the 10 minutes:
http://fiction.eserver.org/short/ransom_of_red_chief.html |
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Megan
+ Dulcie (Lehmschlog's The Right Spot) + Rogan (Lehmschlog's BR Rogan) + Anya (Lehmschlog's Anya O Conchobar)
Intro to harness sport/mushing- start here! |
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