Only in America
High-powered executives and other professionals are choosing to rent pets rather than own them.
High-powered executives and other professionals are choosing to rent pets rather than own them. Offering what it calls “a unique alternative to full-time pet ownership,” the California-based FlexPetz, with branches in most major cities, rents out its dogs for $39.95 per day, with a $75 surcharge if the dog is returned late. “It’s like I am the uncle to the dog,” said Manhattan neurologist Farng-Yang Foo. “I can take it out for walks and take care of it. But I don’t have to worry about it being alone during the day.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?
In the Spotlight Britons advised to prepare after the EU tells its citizens to have an emergency kit just in case
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Carnivore diet: why people are eating only meat
The Explainer 'Meatfluencers' are taking social media by storm but experts warn meat-only diets have health consequences
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published