Pet rental is the practice, usually administered by for-profit companies established for this specific purpose, of renting pets such as dog and cats. It is a controversial practice opposed by many animal rights advocates and has been banned in at least one municipality: Boston, Massachusetts.
Video Pet rental
Methods of Pet Rental
Therapy Dogs
There are several methods of renting a therapy dog as a part of the Mayo Clinic's Caring Canines program The dogs that participate in this method of pet renting make regular visits to various hospital departments and even make special visits upon request The dogs that participate in this program have been welcomed by the patients and are considered a good distraction from the atmosphere of the hospital.
Renting an Animal for an Event
Another method of pet rental includes renting animals for an event. Animal Craze, a traveling farm, specializes in renting animals for either birthday parties, events, etc. Their services usually range from $200 to $500 depending on the amounts of animals and what kinds of animals a person chooses to rent. Mobile Zoos are also a form of pet renting for an event. Mobile Zoos' are popular in the United Kingdom. They provide exotic animals for children's parties.
Renting Pets as a Test
Renting a pet for reasons such as: not being able to have animals in their home due to rental agreements, policies etc., loved ones with allergies or work or travel are common methods of pet renting. In addition, one could rent an animal to see if they are ready to take on the responsibilities of an animal or to see if an animal is right in the first place.
Maps Pet rental
Accessibility
Cat Cafés
The first known cat cafe was located in Taipei, Taiwan, named Cat Flower Garden. Opening in 1998, it became a place for stressed out visitors to come drink coffee and pet cats. Cat cafés increased in popularity in Japan because most renters were not allowed to own pets. In 2005, Shop of Cats in Tokyo and others like it became a place for single income families to enjoy the comfort of the pets that they couldn't own. In April 2014, New York took on the cat café idea, which took off immediately. Sponsored by Purina One, it let families meet adoptable cats. Additionally, two pop-up cat cafés in California, located in Bay area and Oakland, opened in 2014.The San Francisco location, KitTea, was open to both rescued and feral cats.The Oakland location, Cat Town, was designated to cats that were ready to be placed in a home. In Europe, cat cafés took off in Paris, Berlin, London, and more.
Dog Cafés
Dog Cafés are popular in Korea and the United States. One café in Santa Monica, named Grounds and Hounds, sponsors shelter dogs that are up for adoption. Customers can pet and love on these puppies in a designated area of the café for as long as they want. Mainly, in Korea especially, dogs in the café are from puppy mills and are not up for adoption. That practice, however, is changing quickly. Dogs in cafés like Grounds and Hounds are adoptable shelter dogs, some suffering from physical illnesses. In these cafés, strict health codes are enforced, requiring animals and food to be separated. For the animals to stay overnight, the café was built in an industrial zone - a requirement given by the L.A. Health Department.
Animal Cafés in Tokyo
In Tokyo, there are pet cafés with rabbits, birds, goldfish, reptiles, goats, and penguins. These cafés are the most popular for those with strict renting policies in Japan, and for tourists. To protect the well-being of the animals, some cafés have specific time limits. Other rules include that food must be separate from the animals, you must have trained handler assistance with some animals, and, with penguins and reptiles, you are there to watch them, not to touch them. Visitors may pay extra for pictures with the animals. Some famous pet cafés in Tokyo include:
- Mrs. Bunny
- Falconer's Café
- Kingyo Café
- Yokohama Subtropical Café
- Penguin Bar Ikebukuro
Why it's Important
One method of pet renting is animal assisted therapy. Animal assisted therapy can help to reduce pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue in people with a range of health issues including: children having dental procedures, people receiving cancer treatment, people in long-term care facilities, people hospitalized with chronic heart failure and veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD. Other benefits from programs that use pet renting are that not only are people who are sick benefit from the animal's presence, but also the loved ones of the ill patients also receive benefit because of the happiness that animal can bring to someone who is sick in a hospital bed.
Ethics
Concerns
In the United Kingdom, the use of Mobile Zoos have become a cause for concern. These Mobile Zoos will soon require licenses to operate in England. The RSPCA recently announced that the Mobile Zoos' were keeping handling the meerkats and raccoons inappropriately. Under the changes to the Animal Welfare Act 2006, anyone who wishes to own a business of providing an animal for an exhibit must require a license from their local authority, including Mobile Zoos. The exhibits must also adhere to welfare standards developed with those working in the sector and animal welfare charities
Abuse in the Media
Animal Saftey
See also
- Cat café
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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