Are Dog-Sharing Plans Cruel?

Faced with a desire for a dog but lacking the ability to care for one full-time, some are turning to dog-sharing programs—though others say the idea is unhealthy for man’s best friend, the Wall Street Journal reports. “From a social standpoint,” programs like Flexpetz, which arranges the renting of dogs in several cities, are “very hard on the animal,” said a veterinary expert.

With that in mind, Boston’s city council unanimously voted against dog-renting, and the Massachusetts state legislature followed suit. Unofficial arrangements are also springing up in which neighbors share pooches, and hotels offering canine companionship find the dogs’ schedules are quickly booked by visitors seeking “sanity time”—with some even having their own email addresses for further correspondence. (More dog stories.)