"Puppies are the hot party entertainment—for birthdays and bachelorettes."

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Has anyone read this article from Thursday's The Wall Street Journal? For a Better Party, Rent Puppies Apparently, renting puppies for kids' birthday parties, as well as adult parties, is the new craze. I, personally, think it's crazy. What's your opinion?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've been to more than one child's birthday party where the guests were asked to bring a pet food item to be donated to a local shelter in lieu of a gift, at the birthday child's request. Now those are parents who are instilling a true love of animals in their children. 

[Stella]

Surely this would fall under Animal Cruelty laws?? Kids and drunk people - not a good place for puppies :(

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

I saw this, too, and I was stunned and enraged that the WSJ is giving this idea and these "businesses" press.  It could have been a worthwhile article, had the author taken the position of what a shameful practice this is.  Instead, it was written in a way that basically legitimizes the puppy parties.  Disgusting. 

I was at least glad to see that the majority of online comments to the article shared my reaction.  (Wasn't sure what to expect, since I'm normally horrified by the general public's moronic comments on newspaper websites!  lol)  I liked one comment in particular that said, "I have an idea, let's throw the owners of these businesses into cages and rent them out as piñatas."  YES!!   

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Pinatas! I love it!

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

Right?!  :)

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Like!

[Shoney & Ruby]

This is a terrible idea. What happens to the puppies after the party? Yes, there is a rent to own option but that's not going to happen for most people--and I hate to think of someone adopting "that cute puppy" at a party and discovering how much care, time and money is involved with taking on a new family member. 

Better idea--but probably not for party entertainment--is the lovely, well-trained therapy dogs I've met at some airports [Reno, for example] that stroll among the people waiting and are happy to provide some stress release while being supervised by well-trained handlers.

I'm pretty disgusted with this idea of puppies as party entertainment....sorry to vent.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I understand that some hotels loan out their house dog to guests. I remember feeling uncomfortable about this when I first heard about the practice, but puppies at parties is really troubling me.

[Amy and Annabelle]

I have been avoiding this post because I knew it would make me sad...and it did. Poor puppies, I agree, puppies, small kids and drunk adults are not a good combination. What if someone got bit because of the way they were treating the puppy? I am appalled at WSJ.