The share-a-dog concept has not gone down well with some quarters but there are those who say it's a win-win situation

Meet Disney, a white two-year-old West Highland Terrier, commonly known as a Westie. Disney is a furry ball of affection and as cute as a button. She cheerfully wags her tail and paws her human companions when she sees them. But there is something different about Disney – she has more than one owner.

Disney is one of 10 dogs owned by Herbert Lim who runs Easy Dogz, a share-a-dog service in Singapore. Easy Dogz offers dog lovers with neither the time nor the space a chance to spend quality time with a pet on a part-time basis. “We charge a one-time S$100 membership fee and S$30 per day on weekdays and S$50 on weekends and public holidays. Everything, from transport to food to leash, is provided,” says Lim in a phone interview.

The share-a-dog business is not a new concept and has sparked heated debates. The business is thriving in Japan, where customers can rent a dog for about RM95 per hour. Embroiled in the controversy is FlexPetz, a US-based company that commenced operations in early 2007. Dog lovers and animals welfare groups protested so strongly against it that a law prohibiting the renting of dogs and cats was introduced in Massachusetts in August 2008 to stop FlexPetz from opening a branch there. FlexPetz has since shelved its operations despite a profitable year, announcing on its website that it is looking to license the business to an interested party.

Lim, a professional dog trainer for over 20 years, defends his business. “In my line of work, I have come across many people who buy dogs on impulse only to find that they do not fit into their lifestyle. Next thing you know, they’re dumping them at whichever place that would take them. All our dogs are abandoned pets. It’s a win-win situation; the dogs get companionship and busy dog lovers get to spend time with them. Families can test their readiness to take care of a dog instead of having more people buying dogs and later abandoning them.”

Public opinion has been mixed, though. There were so many objections that Lim was questioned by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA). “I had a two-hour interview with AVA officials recently. Regulations say pet shops are banned from renting pets but we are not a pet shop. We are not callous; there is a screening interview and briefing before we take on a client. The dogs are well cared for, we keep them in a house where they are free to roam around and they are trained to be with different people. The only fault they can find is the licensing because a dog is not allowed to be homed in more than one address.”

Meanwhile, SPCA Malaysia acknowledges that there are many homeless animals but renting them out is not a solution, it says. “It must be established that having a pet is a big responsibility and a lifelong commitment. We do not support these businesses and strongly feel this concept is detrimental to the dog in question,” says SPCA.

It is of the opinion that dogs rely on meaningful relationships with their human guardians. Passing them from one person to another will stress the animal out as it has no routine and no consistent rules to live by.

Gabriel Q Chan, who has two whippets, Shayba and Buddy, agrees. “Animals, especially dogs, develop trust when they belong to a pack and see the head of the family as the leader of the pack. Dogs are creatures of habit, they need a sense of familiarity and consistency, so if the leader and environment keep changing, it will create confusion, fear anxiety and rejection,” he tells haven.

On the flipside, one of Easy Dogz’s regular clients, a Japanese expat who declined to be named, begs to differ. She has been taking a two-year-old male Westie, named Snowy, home every other week for almost a year and Snowy has never shown any signs of distress. “Snowy is always happy to see me and he remembers me and the surroundings each time. He would follow me all over the house, wanting to play. Two of his favourite pastimes are going for walks and sleeping. He loves to cuddle up next to me and sleep,” she laughs.

Despite the controversy, the renting of dogs has its followers. Ben Ozer, an IT specialist in Singapore, tells haven that she is considering trying out the service, believing that it is better for a dog to have some form of a loving home, even if it is several homes, than none at all. “From what I understand, dogs do not understand the past or future. They are creatures who live in the moment. If the dogs are well taken care of and are given plenty of affection, it is a better option than having them kept in a facility where they will be put down if no one adopts them,” says Ozer.

The future of the business is unclear. Lim sees a long journey just to get the departments concerned to allow Easy Dogz to continue its business but for now, he will plod on.

Meanwhile, the debate rages on.

This article appeared in haven, Issue #40, Dec 2009 + Jan 2010, the deco and garden publication of The Edge Malaysia