New Program Lets Travelers Rent a Dog for a Day

Whether you want some out-of-the-box exercise while you travel, an excuse to see a destination in a new way or you just really love dogs, the new Doggy Day Out program from Mutual Rescue might be up your alley. This program allows travelers to rent a dog from a local shelter and then take the dog on an outing, whether that be for a day hike, a trip to a dog-friendly beach or a stop at a pet-friendly restaurant or bar.

“Doggy Day Out encourages people who might not typically have time to volunteer to engage with local shelters and advocate for the dogs,” says Carol Novello, founder, Mutual Rescue. “It’s also a great excuse to get out and get some exercise or explore with a canine sidekick.”

There are participating Doggy Day Out shelters all over the United States, so you should be able to find a participating shelter near your next destination.

But the program isn’t just fun for travelers who are dog lovers maybe missing their pooch back home or who want to do a little good in the community where they’re staying. It’s also great for the dogs themselves. Not only do dogs get to burn off some energy and stress they otherwise might not be able to release while staying in a cramped shelter, but they also get more exposure to the community, meaning the likelihood of an adoption increases. In fact, Doggy Day Out says that, after one Ohio shelter rented more than 80 dogs in one day, that same shelter saw more than 10 of those dogs adopted within 24 hours.