coming soon to SF - FlexPetz

[Guest guest]

I thought people on this list might be

interested in learning that FlexPetz (www.flexpetz.com)

is planning on opening a branch in San

Francisco this month.

 

With regards to businesses of this nature,

I have numerous reactions. One of the strongest is: What happens to the dogs,

and what will be the quality of their lives, when they become too old to be a

desired ‘rented pet?’ and need certain specific care?

 

I’d love to hear other peoples

reactions.

 

 

Best,

Andrea

Brooks of Education and Client Advocacy

PAWS - Pets Are Wonderful Support

415.979.9550 ext 304

[Guest guest]

I heard a sound bite about this on a TV news program .. and wondered about it ... Of course, right at the top where they talk about the dogs, they do try to show how responsible they are by saying "Where possible, FLEXPETZ dogs are rescues or in urgent need of rehoming." Two of the five dogs featured are rescued/rehomed.

 

I think anytime humans have a relationship with non-humans and humans try to profit from that relationship, that need to cover costs and make a profit is rarely to the benefit of the non-human animal.

 

I think the idea has merit if it were a program of a rescue/foster group and the goal was to enrich the lives of both dogs and people, and most importantly, only until the dog found a permanent home.

 

Cheers,

Tammy.

 

 

 

 

Bay Area Vegetarianswww.BayAreaVeg.org

[Guest guest]

I just read the article in the Chron today about this business, and found it

very disturbing. This is just another sign of our sick society where people

think they can have everything their way, according to their needs. And, in

a way that objectifies animals, promoting them as property rather than

living beings.

Although the idea of helping some dogs that otherwise would not be adopted

( and aren't the ones that make the best candidates for this " business " the

most adoptable anyway??!!) sounds plausible, I can envision all sorts of

negative issues. Will people then breed dogs/other companion animals that

are well-suited to this type of program? Will it not discourage people from

adopting animals that really need homes? And, the service is not cheap! So,

think what could be done for homeless animals, especially ones that shelters

can only afford to care for briefly before they have to kill them, with the

money paid to " rent " these dogs? Using the kind of Peter Singer-esque

analogy that always rankles non-animal people, why not rent out children a

few times a month, take them to the movies or dinner, and return them to

their care-takers?! Similarly, if one is too busy to caretake a child, one

should not have/adopt one ( though, admittedly, some people do ignore their

kids, anyway). Same should hold true for animal companions. One of the women

in the article stated that she was too busy to have a dog with her

full-time. I am sure that many shelters would love for her to volunteer

once or twice a month to walk dogs or otherwise socialize them, for free!

And, what is the emotional impact on the ( potentially) affection-starved

dogs? I do not think that it can be good for them when they have a week

without any visitors! And, Andrea, in response to your question about the

" pets " that need to be retired, I can just imagine them going to a lab, or

worse!

 

Shelley

 

 

_________________________

I thought people on this list might be interested in learning that FlexPetz

(www.flexpetz.com) is planning on opening a branch in San Francisco this

month.

 

With regards to businesses of this nature, I have numerous reactions. One

of the strongest is: What happens to the dogs, and what will be the quality

of their lives, when they become too old to be a desired 'rented pet?' and

need certain specific care?

 

I'd love to hear other peoples reactions.

 

Best,

Andrea Brooks of Education and Client Advocacy

PAWS - Pets Are Wonderful Support

415.979.9550 ext 304