A dog's not for Christmas, it's just for the afternoon:
Pet rental in Japan is booming. The number of companies dedicated to renting out pets in Tokyo alone has risen from 17 in 2000 to 134 today...
[A] shortage of space and apartment regulations banning animals are fuelling the demand for part-time pets.
From dogs, cats and rabbits to birds, ferrets and turtles, an eclectic array of domestic animals are currently available to rent in Japan for periods ranging one hour to a week.
And with costs as low as 1,500 yen (£6.30) an hour to rent a dog - the most popular rental animal - the practice is as accessible as it is popular. (The Telegraph)
I'm not convinced that it's great for the animals, but it seems quite a good idea, really, as it allows people who can't have an pet due to housing or time restrictions still enjoy the company of animals.[A] shortage of space and apartment regulations banning animals are fuelling the demand for part-time pets.
From dogs, cats and rabbits to birds, ferrets and turtles, an eclectic array of domestic animals are currently available to rent in Japan for periods ranging one hour to a week.
And with costs as low as 1,500 yen (£6.30) an hour to rent a dog - the most popular rental animal - the practice is as accessible as it is popular. (The Telegraph)
