Some people joke about dogs being props to score phone numbers while others are serious about joint dog-custody or other nontraditional arrangements due to San Francisco's crackdown on pets. At one time or another, a lot of us have pined for a dog without being able to accept full-time responsibility for one. For such people, a new site that lets you rent dogs is a dream come true.
Dogo connects shelter dogs with awesome people for play dates without the commitment of adoption. All you have to do is attend an orientation through one of two shelters Dogo works with (Muttville and Family Dog Rescue), and in no time you'll be hanging out with a dog who needs fresh air and socialization.
The two shelters require different orientations but both are under two hours. Muttville tends to offer dogs seeking more mellow adventures because they're older rescues, while Family Dog Rescue has a mix of dogs of all ages. Pet renters can take dogs out for four hours at a time to basically anywhere so long as "the dog's wellbeing is a priority," says Dogo.
Dogo's creator Danielle Bowers explained to me that no money changes hands during the "renting" process and there are about 40 to 60 dogs in both shelters at any given time just waiting to go on a walk or play. Bowers is a longtime dog lover who has volunteered with the SPCA. She says she was inspired to create Dogo when she noticed that dogs in shelters were less likely to be adopted the longer they were there due to infrequent socializing and exercise.
While you can stilladopt a dog you spend time with (nudge, nudge), the emphasis isn't on that but on making sure that people and dogs find companionship regardless of other life constraints.
Image via Thinkstock
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