Movements Towards Dog Rental Prohibition

"No person shall engage in the business of leasing or renting dogs and cats." This is the opening line of a Bill passed by The State of Massachusetts in the US this week. Prohibiting the renting of pets, the Bill, which has now been forwarded to the US Senate for concurrence, seems almost exclusively aimed at the business activities of the now infamous pet rental company FlexPets.

News that FlexPetz was intending to set up business in the Massachusetts capital, Boston, prompted concerns which led to this prohibition bill. It now needs to be voted upon in the US Senate before 31 July.

Dogs Trust said of the news last night that the campaign against what it calls a "cruel dog rental trade", has made a step forward, raising hopes of a ban on this side of the Atlantic.

Dogs Trust CEO Clarissa Baldwin said yesterday:

"Today's news is fantastic, but we now need the UK to follow this sound reasoning and prohibit the dog rental trade. Dogs Trust, and many other animal welfare charities, work hard to promote the respect for animals that is so undermined by businesses like FlexPetz.

"Dogs are complex social animals that need stability, routine and a loving family. Compromising these needs for profit is unacceptable and UK law should take steps to reflect this."