Summary of Key Points
The pet rental business has recently gained attention on social media—pet dogs can be rented for a few dollars to several hundred dollars, satisfying the desire of people who don’t have time to own pets to pet them and helping pet owners with issues such as walking their dogs or taking short breaks. However, this business has also sparked significant controversy: some argue that pets are being treated as commodities, posing safety risks and leading to unclear responsibilities; others worry that frequent changes in environment can cause stress for the pets and may even provide opportunities for dog abuse or theft. Although the platforms claim to be non-profit, the underlying operations, responsibility allocation, and protection of pet rights remain unresolved.
How Does Pet Rental Work? You Can Be a “Temporary Owner” for Just a Few Dollars
Pet rental mainly operates through mobile apps (such as “Wang Bu” mentioned in the article), with a simple process:
1. Registration: Upload your ID card (the author’s expired ID card was accepted, indicating loose verification).
2. Selecting a Pet: Pets on the app are priced by the hour, ranging from 1 yuan for border collies to over 200 yuan for popular breeds.
3. Handover: After payment, go to the specified address to pick up the dog. The pet owner will provide a leash, poop bags, etc., and some platforms allow the renter to take the dog independently.
4. Return: Return the dog on time; some pet owners even monitor the renter or purchase insurance in case of accidents.
For example, the author rented a Shineray for a reasonable hourly fee but noticed that the pet did not have a tracking device or camera, leaving the renter to bear the risk of the dog biting someone.
Why Do Some Support While Others Criticize?
Supporters’ Arguments:
- For Renters: It allows them to satisfy their desire to have a pet without the long-term responsibilities (such as feeding, vet visits, and cleaning).
- For Pet Owners: It provides help with walking dogs when they are busy and can generate some extra income (for instance, the Shineray’s owner was too busy to walk it and decided to rent it out).
Critics’ Arguments:
- Pets as Commodities: Some believe that treating pets as rental items deprives them of their emotional value.
- Safety Concerns: Renters may lack experience, potentially leading to pet injuries or bites.
- Unclear Responsibilities: In the event of an accident (e.g., a dog biting someone), it’s unclear who is responsible, causing concern for both parties.
Where Are the Risks? Responsibility and Safety Are Unclear
The biggest issue with this business is the lack of clear rules:
- Loose Verification: Even expired ID cards are accepted, and platforms do not thoroughly check the backgrounds of renters.
- Unclear Responsibilities: The author mentioned feeling anxious about potential issues while walking the dog, such as if it got poisoned or involved in a fight with another dog—whose responsibility would that be?
- Weak Platform Support: The “Wang Bu” platform takes a 20% commission but only gave the author a 1.67 yuan reward. Many pet owners do not use the platform’s safety features (such as tracking devices or cameras), relying solely on trust.
Do Pets Agree to This? Ethical Questions Remain
Pets are emotional beings, yet their needs are often overlooked in this business:
- Stress: Frequent changes in owners and environments can cause stress and fear (as stated by a South Korean veterinary professor).
- Prohibition Abroad: Nine states in the U.S. have banned pet rentals, considering it a consumerist practice that harms pets.
- Lack of Rights: Platforms, pet owners, and renters focus on their own needs without considering the pets’ wishes. What if they don’t want to be rented out? They may end up as “unprotected items” with no one to care for their well-being in case of injury or stress.
In Conclusion: The Business Is Not Yet Ready
Pet rental seems like a win-win situation, but the underlying issues of safety, responsibility, and ethics have not been addressed. Platforms claim to aim to bring joy, but the rights of pets and the risks for both renters and owners are not clearly protected by any regulations. Is this business really about “sharing happiness” or “consuming lives”? More discussion and regulation are needed before it can be considered legitimate.