Part-time pets.

• Position: BUSINESS - Brief article

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Many dog lovers are deprived of canine companionship when their schedules or apartment buildings won't accommodate pets. But in some cities, they can now rent a dog. Flexpetz, based in San Diego, rents out dogs that have been rescued from shelters. The company has branches in Los Angeles, New York, and London. Customers register at Flexpetz.com and are screened before they can rent a dog. They pay a monthly membership fee of $100 plus $45 a day for a dog. Chris Hadixx, who runs the New York branch, says customers...