volinbham
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From the WSJ.
An Idea Whose Time Has Come: The Time-Share Dog - WSJ.com
An Idea Whose Time Has Come: The Time-Share Dog - WSJ.com
Penny De Los Santos wanted a dog but traveled too much to care for one full time. So, she opted for the next best thing: a time-share pet. For two years, Ms. Santos shared a mellow female Husky mix with her neighbors, who took the dog for about one week a month. They split veterinary bills and the cost of vaccinations and heartworm pills. The neighbors called the dog Nika. Ms. Santos preferred the name Monica.
:question:For years, lots of dog lovers have gone without the companionship of man's best friend because, for one reason or another, they felt they couldn't keep a pet. Now, some are getting around obstacles by sharing ownership. And to meet that growing demand, pet-lending services are proliferating. For travelers, some locations of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International Inc., and Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., a subsidiary of Marriott International Inc., are offering guests the chance to take out resident dogs for hours at a time. Some animal shelters let dog lovers swing by and take a pooch out for a day.
