Pet Project

Rent-A-Dog Service Makes Its Debut

No time for a pet? Then rent one. A California company has begun offering Flex Petz, a new service for dog lovers who just don't have the time to care for a pet, or the space. The ``shared dog'' service is available in Los Angeles and San Diego. Its founder hopes to open new locations in San Francisco next month, New York in September and London by the end of the year. The annual fee is about $100 a year. Only dogs with social temperaments are picked for the program. The current 10-dog crew includes Afghan hounds, Labrador retrievers and Boston terriers.