Rental Dog Wheelchair - Good Idea or Gimmick for Handicapped Pet?

We are often asked whether we rent dog wheelchairs.  One can rent a car and a house, but most people, who can afford to, buy a car or a house rather than rent.  So is it a good idea to rent a dog wheelchair?

Well let's compare it to a similar concept that is more familiar - renting or leasing a car.   Whether one rents (or leases) a car, the result is the same.  You pay more money per day (or month) than one would pay if you purchased the car outright (or negotiated a traditional car loan.)  And when you return the car, what do you keep - nothing!   Unlike the car manufacturers, we don't see the car rental companies going broke.  That is because even renting a car a few days a month, can cover the entire cost of a car loan.  And the car rental companies can negotiate much better car prices than we can.

How do dog wheelchair rentals work?  We saw two scenarios online.

Method 1: You pay the entire cost of a dog wheelchair.  And the dog wheelchair you receive isn't even new - it is a used dog wheelchair.  If you return it in 45 days, you get 50% of your money back.  Well, that just is not a great deal from where we sit at K-9 Cart.  Typically, almost all the K-9 Cart dog wheelchair owners are able to get 50% of what they paid for a K-9Cart.com dog wheelchair selling it themselves even after owning it a year.  But from dog wheelchair company #1, you pay full-price and only get 50% back for a used dog wheelchair.

Method 2: You pay $109-$339 upfront depending on the size of dog cart ordered for a rental dog wheelchair.  The company doesn't say whether you receive a new wheelchair, but we sure hope so.  Then each week, you pay an additional $30-$70.  By week three or 21 days, you pay a minimum of $169 and up to $479, and you still don't own the dog wheelchair.  So you have paid more than 50% for any size cart and own nothing, zero, zip. Again, this doesn't sound like a good deal to us.

Well, you say maybe my dog has a condition where he will only need a dog wheelchair for a few weeks for rehabilitation.  Honestly, this is what we love to hear and see.  But it is the exception rather than the rule  and you know that if you are here trying to make the decision to get a K-9 Cart dog wheelchair that this will happen.   In addition, if you return a K-9 Cart within 10 days, you get 65% of your cart cost refunded.  What do you get if you buy a new K-9Cart.com dog wheelchair?  You get a custom-fit, brand new dog wheelchair at K-9 Cart for your dog that in the worse case scenario you can resell and still be out less money than a rental dog wheelchair.

If you really are in need of financial assistance, look at our Financial Help Links page, where we give some good resources for monetary help purchasing a dog wheelchair.  Read Dawn and Miles story in our newsletter about how she raised money in 2 days with a garage sale.  If you really think your pet will only need a wheelchair for a few days, consider a handheld sling.  Also, consider talking to your rehab vet facility.  We have a few rehab facilities that have K-9 Carts to fit the most common size dogs they see.  Since our carts are adjustable in length, height, and width, this may be a good option.  Have your vet call us and see if that makes sense for them too.

Finally, talk with us at www.k-9cart.com or 1-866-K9-Carts.  We are the only dog wheelchair company designed, owned, and produced by a veterinarian.