Japan's Rent-a-Puppy

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 at 10:49:06 AM by Edward Knittel

Residents of Tokyo, Japan are often unable to own a pet due to the strict rules associated with living in a densely populated society. This has left many dog lovers there without the companionship and happiness that a puppy can give.

Enter Puppy The World - a rental pet shop at Tokyo's Odaiba waterfront park. Here, patrons pay 1,575 yen (S$25) to rent a small dog such as a chihuahua, toy poodle or miniature dachshund for an hour long walk. For the steeper price of 10,500 yen, renters can take their chosen dog home for an overnight stay and are provided with a day's pet food, a water dish and a cage for the animals to sleep in.

For Japanese with a fondness for animals but who are unable to raise pets because of teramped homes or strict apartment rules, shops like these are a godsend.

'Three of us in our family love dogs, but my grandfather hates them,' said a 12-year-old girl who lives with her parents and grandparents in a Tokyo condominium, and who rents a dog every week.

In Tokyo alone, the number of shops registered to rent out pets grew to 115 as of March, up from 17 just three years earlier.

All of which brings up a good point: is this healthy for the dog? If the dog is shy or afraid of certain people can being rented out like this cause possible anxiety problems?

More information from The Straits Times

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