On Our Mind: Adopting a Pet In College

Cartoon by Taryn Trousdale

Each year thousands of pets are abandoned or surrendered by college students. Most of these pets were adopted or purchased on a whim, without proper planning or consideration for the pet’s well-being.

It is the time of the semester when things get hectic and students start to get homesick. And what’s more soothing than a warm puppy or kitten curled up beside you?

The only problem is, will that puppy or kitten have somewhere to curl up when it’s time for you to leave school for winter break or after graduation?

According to the Humane Society of the United States, animal shelters in cities with a college or university typically have higher abandonment and surrender rates than cities without an institution of higher education.

This is why students should think twice about adopting a pet while attending college. And if they decide to do so anyway, they should be ready to face the consequences that will surely arise.

Adopting a pet means buying food, providing proper shelter, bathing the pet, cleaning up after the pet, and spending quality time with the pet. This is without considering veterinarian bills that could arise if the animal becomes sick.

Some students may think that having a fish as a pet is a piece of cake. But there are also several things to consider even when buying a fish. For example, how will a dorm resident clean a fish tank? It may be difficult to fit the tank into a dorm sink. Also, will you take the fish home over breaks? If so, how will you transport it? If not, how will you feed it while you’re gone?

One more area of concern for those adopting fish or other small pets is what to do with them when the semester is over. We’ve all heard the stories of the person putting their fish, tank and all, in a trash bag and setting it in the dumpster. This is not only cruel, it is irresponsible.

By keeping these things in mind before adopting or purchasing a pet, students may realize quickly that their lifestyle, living space and budget are not ready for a pet.

Still, for those who just can’t refuse seeing a furry face, there’s always the option of volunteering at the animal shelter.