#9. Rent-a-Pet
Too busy for a full-time pet? Rent one. The first rent-a-pup chain in the
U.S. opened its doors this year in California and New York. Flex-Petz
rescues homeless dogs and rents them to time-pressed humans for as little as
a few hours or as long as a week. The business plan may sound like a
win-win, but not everyone is wagging their tails. The Humane Society has
spoken out against pet sharing, calling it morally irresponsible and
traumatic for animals that get passed around among temporary owners. But
that hasn't kept dog lovers from ponying up nearly $1,000 in annual fees.