Rental dogs

The cafe that I hang out at is across the street from a park where many people walk their dogs, and it's clear that dogs are a great conversation starter. If two people have dogs, the dogs will want to interact (hopefully in a friendly way), and even non-dog-owners will often want to pet other people's dogs, ask what breed they are, etc. I even know several married couples that were introduced by their dogs.

However, many people don't have the space or time to keep a dog. A well- located rental agency would provide a useful service to such people. Dogs could be rented by the hour, with premium prices charged for puppies, unusual breeds, and exotic animals (e.g. parrots, iguanas, ferrets, leash-trained cats). People who wanted the same dog each time could make reservations for a small additional fee.

This idea could also be a fundraiser for an animal shelter. In that case, the fee could be a "volunteer administration fee" and might even be tax deductable.