House votes to ban pet-rental companies

July 22, 2008 04:48 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By Jeannie M. Nuss, Globe Correspondent

Man's best friend apparently has a good friend in the Massachusetts House. The House passed a bill today that would ban pet-rental companies in the state.

(AFP Photo)

The bill, filed by Representative Paul K. Frost, Republican of Auburn, outlaws pet-rental companies because of what he called “public health, public safety, consumer concerns, and ethical issues.”

“I’m very pleased we were able to get it passed today and engrossed in the House,” Frost said. “It’s a kind of business model that fosters disposable pets.”

Earlier this month, Boston city councilors voted to ban the Flex Petz pet-rental company from opening a Boston branch because of similar concerns, said Frost.

Flex Petz, founded by Marlena Cervantes in 2007, currently operates in New York, Los Angeles, and London. It has been recently criticized by many animal activist organizations.

The bill will not prohibit existing companies that train dogs for the blind or as working or racing dogs, but it will prohibit companies modeled after Flex Petz, Frost said.

“I’m not a person who likes to ban businesses or economic expansion of any sort, but I really thought this business really crossed some ethical lines,” he said.

The bill, which passed on a voice vote with no opposition, now will head to the Senate. Flex Petz did not return calls to their corporate offices seeking comment.