College Students and Pets
Questions about responsibility and pet care to ask before you adopt
Feb 19, 2007 Naomi Rockler-Gladen
Is it a good idea for a college student to adopt a pet? A sweet cat, dog, or other pet can bring joy into your life, relieve stress, and make your first apartment feel more like a home. But don't underestimate the cost and responsibility that comes with adopting a pet. Many college students find that pet ownership is more responsibility than they thought, and every year thousands of college students leave unwanted pets at animal shelters.
Are you ready to adopt a pet, or should you put off this responsibility until after graduation day? Here are some questions to ask yourself before you visit your local humane society and bring a pet into your life.
Can you afford a pet? To be a responsible pet owner, you need to spend a decent amount of money at the pet store and the veterinarian's office. No, you don't need to pay for expensive dog grooming and gold-plated collars. But you do need to budget for pet food, pet vaccinations and annual veterinary care, licensing, and other miscellaneous expenses like cat litter. If you adopt a kitten or puppy, you will need to pay to have the pet spayed or neutered. And keep in mind that if your pet gets sick, veterinary care can be very expensive.
Do you have the time for a pet? Dogs are especially time consuming pets. Do you have time to walk the dog, bathe the dog, groom the dog, and train the dog? Dogs need environments where people are around frequently and where they have frequent access to the outdoors, so if your schedule will require you to be away most of the time, perhaps a dog isn't right for you. Cats are less time consuming, but you still need to clean the litter box and tend to the cat's nails and fur.
Do you have enough space for a pet? A dog in a cramped apartment is a bad idea, and it's not such a good idea for a cat either. If you live in a small case, you might consider a small caged pet like a guinea pig.
Is your living situation conductive to having a pet? Are you going to be moving around frequently in the next few years? Will you be gone for long periods of time and need a pet sitter? Are you planning on studying abroad?
Does your landlord allow pets? Keep in mind that many do not. If you need to move, your options on where to live might be limited because you own a pet. In addition, many landlords require pet deposit fees or charge extra to tenants with pets.
Are your roommates as happy about the pet as you are? This is an important question. Before adopting a pet, make sure your roommates are excited about the idea. Make it clear to them that taking care of the pet will be your responsibility and then follow through with this. Make sure your roommates are not allergic to the kind of pet you have in mind. And keep in mind that your choice in future roommates might be limited because you own a pet.
What's going to happen to the pet after you graduate from college? This is an important question. A pet should be a lifetime commitment! if you don't think you'll be able to care for this pet in the long run, wait a few years.
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