# Found a 'pet leasing' business here in Portland...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-pet-leasing-business-here-in-portland/653977>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 26, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-pet-leasing-business-here-in-portland/653977 "2013-03-26T01:42:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-pet-leasing-business-here-in-portland/653977/21 "2013-03-27T04:25:52Z")

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> [@redtail23](#):
>
> It does seem very odd to me, but could be a really valid way of resolving the disposable pet problem. Give people a pet, charge them for it, take it back when they get tired of it. What’s not to like?

I really don’t think we should be encouraging people who see animals as “disposable” to have them, and certainly not encouraging anyone to see animals as “disposable.” Those people shouldn’t have pets to begin with. If your dog is disposable property, why should you arse yourself to play with him?

Pets are a responsibility, not a right.

> [@Duckster](#):
>
> No mention of the animals having a better life.

Exactly.

I’d be more supportive if this were a new model of pet insurance – say, partnered with local shelters to facilitate adoptions – but no one should be getting a pet if they’re not fully committed to it. These are sentient beings with their own emotional needs, not fashion accessories.

If there’s a serious matching problem, shelters can and do take the animal back themselves. As far I know, this is stipulated in the adoption contract at most places.

Also, to be blunt, if it’s my pet, the one that I live with and love and care for and play with every day (no legalese changes that), _no one_ gets to make medical decisions about him except for me. I sure as hell wouldn’t be on board with my vet deciding that medical intervention is “too expensive” to justify cutting into their profits, and simply taking my family member away and terminating the “lease.”

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