Your help needed to Stop Pet Rental - A response from MY MP

littlelab · Last edited by littlelab on Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:06 pm; edited 1 time in total

Cross posted..

Flexpetz, if you don't already know, is the American company opening in London and hoping to spread across the UK that rents dogs to people who don't want the commitment of a pet.

David Drew, Labour MP for Shroud, has tabled an Early Day Motion for the 4th July (EDM 1699):

That this House expresses concern about the operation of the dog rental company, FlexPetz, which has opened in London with the intention to expand to various cities across the United Kingdom; acknowledges that the UK dog rental business is currently very small but recognises the potential for its growth due to the increase in fashion accessory dogs; disapproves of causing distress to dogs as a result of them being rented out to numerous people; believes that this encourages irresponsible attitudes to dog ownership; further believes that dog renting is, or should be, a breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in that it is highly likely to inhibit dogs from having the ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns; further disapproves of renting dogs for profit; calls on the Government to take action to ensure compliance with the Animal Welfare Act; and thanks the Kennel Club for drawing attention to this issue.

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails....amp;SESSION=891

Please write to your MP and ask them to sign EDM 1699 so that the issue can move on to parliamentary debate.

You can find your MP here:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

I have included a copy of the email I sent to my MP below. Feel free to rejig it if it helps at all! It takes just a few mins to get in touch with your MP and the more people who do the better chance we have of stamping this out before this stupid scheme takes off.

Dear ,

Re: Flexpetz Dog Rental Company

I am writing to urge you to support Robert Brown’s attempts to have this appalling “rent-a dog” scheme prevented from operating. I have grave concerns about the plans of Flexpetz to place dogs into a succession of households on a rental basis. I believe this raises serious questions in regard to public safety and the animal's welfare.

I should point out that every animal welfare organisation in the UK is totally opposed to this concept (e.g. Scottish SPCA, RSPCA, Dogs Trust etc.) Their reasons are based on both concern for the welfare of the dogs involved and on the message that it sends out to the wider public regarding the commitment and responsibility that is an integral part of being able to enjoy the companionship of a dog. The slogan “A Dog is for Life” is even more relevant in the “disposable” mentality of today’s society than it was over twenty years ago when it was first thought up by the CEO of Dogs Trust (then NCDL).

I urge you to sign EDM 1699 so that this matter can receive the attention of Parliament.

Yours sincerely,

AngelaC · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject:

I wrote to my MP earlier this week and he's going to look into it and get back to me. He had better sign it!

I know someone had the idea of setting up a similar scheme elsewhere in the UK but I gather they received such opposition, including from the council, dog warden, various breeders, kennels etc., that they decided not to go ahead thankfully.

dotandmegan · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:47 pm Post subject:

Done - thanks for the text!

Carley · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject:

Done. I hope you don't mind I did a copy and paste job to keep me on track as I tend to rant when I try and write things like this.

ali5 · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

Just done - again copied and pasted yours - hope you don't mind. Sad

_Harriet_ · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject:

jo10 · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject:

Sent mine to Mr Middleton MP. I should get a reply in 5 days (apparently!) lets hope he is on our side.
It's such a terrible and cruel scheme to introduce into the UK, it amazes me what humans think off to make a quick buck at the expense of others. Evil or Very Mad