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Controversial App Lets Dog Owners Rent Out Their Pets by the Hour to Strangers

Wangfu lets users rent dogs for short walks in major Chinese cities, but vets warn repeated handoffs may stress pets out.

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The dog rental economy is here, and depending on how attached you are to your animal, it will either sound like a great idea or a complete affront to everything you stand for.

Wangfu, a pet-sharing platform that launched earlier this year, is operating in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen with a straightforward pitch: dog owners list their animals, renters pick one and request a walk. Hourly fees range from 10 to 60 yuan ($1.50 to $9), depending on the dog. Both parties go through real-name verification, the platform carries pet insurance, and GPS tracking........

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