Month: July 2007

FlexPetz offers time shares in dogs for people who don’t have enough space or time for full-time dog ownership. Members are able to reserve a dog for a certain day, then pick up the dog or have it delivered, and the dog comes with its own “care kit”, including leash, food, bowls, and bed. FlexPetz was started so people who miss having a dog, but know they aren’t able to be a full-time dog owner, could still have canine companionship.

I’m not sure how I feel about this. I don’t like the idea of people thinking dogs are just an object you can rent or something disposable or interchangable. But I do like the idea of people benefiting from having a dog even if circumstance don’t make it possible for them to responsibly have a dog full-time. Dogs can add so much to our lives:

• more exercise
• companionship and love
• reduced stress
• more laughter
• more socializing with other people
• a level of security
• improved physical and mental health

FlexPetz says it adopts rescue dogs when possible and I immediately noticed on their site that they have black labs, which are dogs least likely to be adopted from shelters. (Check out the post on black dog syndrome to see the problems black shelter dogs face.) FlexPetz must choose dogs who are unfazed by moving around and meeting lots of people, but even then I don’t like the idea that these dogs lives might be too chaotic. However, these dogs are probably some of the best exercised dogs around and have the most enriched lives, because the people spending time with them are literally invested in them. FlexPetz is insanely expensive.

If you long for time with a dog, I think a better idea might be volunteering at a rescue organization for dog walking, training, socializing, and grooming. Check with your local Humane Society or animal shelter.

Jake started out an abandoned, injured puppy, but was adopted and trained by Mary Flood to be a search and rescue dog. Jake and Mary searched for survivors in the rubble at the World Trade Center after 9/11 and in the flooded homes in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. And he was helping Mary train other search and rescue dogs. Sadly, Jake was euthanized at the age of twelve after battling cancer.

But even after death, Jake will continue to help people. He is part of a study of 9/11 search and rescue dogs conducted by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine to learn what, if any, were the long-term effects of searching the WTC rubble.

Kandu was born without front legs and his previous owners thought he couldn’t have a good life and needed to be euthanized. But, Kandu’s new family and friends are committed to making sure he can do anything and enjoys a rich life.

First, came the custom wheels that are unlike any I’ve seen before. Then, since they’re in Colorado, it only makes since that they made him a ski for when it snows. Next they’re working on making swimming possible. What a lucky dog! And it shows that some pretty tough obstacles can be overcome when adopting a dog.

Kandu’s prosthetics were developed by Martin Kaufman at OrthoPets. They’ve made some amazing orthotics and prosthetics, including these complex braces for a dog without a scapula and a spring-loaded shoulder brace.

Kandu is now a certified therapy dog with Heeling Friends and visits hospital patients and he has his own site—O,YES!U,KANDU—where you can find out more about Kandu. They have merchandise for sale with all the proceeds going to The Evergreen Animal Protective League, who rescued Kandu, and to Heeling Friends.