An MSP is horrified at plans for a dog rental firm to set up shop in Glasgow.

“Dog renting is an idea which will horrify most dog owners and dog lovers.

“Dog rental businesses encourage irresponsible attitudes towards dogs and encourage the use of pets as fashion accessories.”

Mr Brown claimed the practice would cause unnecessary distress to dogs by depriving them of a stable environment.

He added: “If dog renting is not a breach of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, it certainly should be.

“On any view, it damages the ability of the dog to have normal relationships with people.

“Dogs are not inanimate consumer items. They need normal stable domestic arrangements as the basis of a contented life.

“The idea of renting out dogs in this way for profit is repugnant.”

I’ve no idea if he’s right or not, but if you’d love to have a dog but can’t for whatever reason then there’s a better option: Barking Mad. It’s essentially a pet-sitting service, and it’s brilliant – and instead of paying silly money to a pet rental service, you get paid to do it.