UPTOWNflavor passes along a link to Flexpetz, a "shared dog ownership concept." Basically, you buy membership into Flexpetz and get to have access to dogs kinda like a time share or a collaborative corporate jet ownership service.

At first I thought this was a horrible concept, but then read that they do take in dogs in need of re-homing, and have provided extensive veterinary care and behavioral training when needed.

Still, many of us view our pets as a member of the family, so the idea of leasing a pet strikes me as a bit strange. I have not stopped by the Coffee Bark in St. Nicholas Park as I don't have a dog, and feel I might be perceived as a creepy guy much in the same way people would look at someone without a kid at a playground. I can't imagine the situation would be much better if my dog was rented.

Believe me, it's not for not trying something kinda like this that my suspicions are aroused.

Despite the fact that we both love dogs, Cheryl and I cannot have one as her allergies are far too strong. So, I did once try running in the morning with my neighbor's dog. The idea was that in exchange for giving the pooch morning exercise, I would get a bit of the fun of having a dog.

It didn't quite work out that way. The bond the pup had with his humans does not automatically translate to anyone holding the leash, and when people stopped to say what a gorgeous dog he was and ask how long I had him, I was embarrassed to say he wasn't mine.

This is my initial take. I'm open to hearing other arguments, but at this point I'm not convinced.