Boston dog lovers voice opposition to "rent-a-best-friend" plan

06/03/08How would you like to be able to rent a "best friend"?

Some Boston dog lovers say that's a very bad idea.

San Diego pet company Flexpetz has been under fire recently for what some think are unhealthy and unethical services. The company rents a wide selection of canine friends to people who don't have the time to fully commit to taking care of a pet.

The company's website says that, "Many people work long hours, travel frequently or have housing/jobs/activities that are not dog-friendly. Our members realize that full-time dog ownership would be unfair to the dog and choose to be Flexpetz members instead."

Boston City Councilors,Monday,heard no opposition to a proposed ban on the company's would-be operations in the city later this year.

The Boston Herald, Tuesday, reported that City Counselor Chuck Turner said, "I think the one unified position that I heard coming from the testimony was that this is no way to treat animal life. They are living beings, not commodities." The hearing covered issues of instability and abandonment of the animal as well as issues of liability if the dog bites or injures someone.

According to The Boston Globe, Flexpetz owner Marlena Cervantes says that the backlash has been unfair. No representative from the company attended the meeting, but The Herald reported that Cervantes said,"We are a small company, and we just don't have the budget to fly out because the government is interfering in our business."

Cervantes said she believes those who are angry are not familiar with Flexpetz's services. The company acquires dogs that have been abandoned, rescued or re-homed. When the dogs are not with" members" they are looked after by primary care givers. The website says, "We carefully screen each dog for social skills, temperament, interest in befriending people, and ability to easily adapt to different people."

The idea about a Boston office was proposed in December of last year and generated a negative reaction. Tracy Habenicht, in a letter to the editor of The Boston Globe, said,"If only someone would rent out children. Could you imagine the uproar such a business would cause? .The same goes for dogs. Imagine how confused these dogs must be not to have a permanent home with a family, but to be shuffled from person to person."


Flexpetz in its website says it offers the possibility of adoption.

But dog rental isn't cheap. You have to pay $99 for an annual administration fee, $150 for a mandatory in-home introduction session and a minimum of four days dog rental (every month) at $45 each. On the day you sign up, you have to be ready to lay down around $429.

Animal lovers and members of the animal rescue and protection leagues won't hear any of this. The proposed ban, if approved, will go to the mayor for signature. The ban, which is to take place July 9, says that anyone caught renting a dog may be fined $300 and that the dog be impounded.

So far, the company has offices in New York, Los Angeles and London. They are set to open other centers this year in Paris, San Francisco and Washington, DC.