Adopting an Animal in College: Best Idea Ever or Worst Mistake?

By Cassidy Camp on June 17, 2017

I grew up in a household that often made jokes about having our own personal zoo. We had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, fish, and more. I am a huge animal lover, and I couldn’t ever imagine myself in a pet-less house; that is, until I got to college. College can be a bit of a culture shock for lifelong pet owners. It feels really strange, and even lonely, to come home to a dorm or apartment without being ambushed by a furry creature that demands your love and attention. So, to fill that void, it has become fairly common for students to adopt animals during their college careers. As much comfort as this may bring, is it a good idea to adopt an animal in college?

Everybody’s situations are different, and it wouldn’t be fair for me to give the big stamp of disapproval on the idea of anyone adopting an animal in college. However, I’ve found that in general, college students don’t think about the long-term effects that adopting an animal will have on their lives and the lives of the animals. I learned that lesson myself, the hard way. I adopted a kitten and a puppy my freshman year of college. Let me tell you, Nala (kitty) and Moose (puppy) were my heart and soul. I lived with a partner and we adopted the animals together, and I had no intentions of ever rehoming them. That is, until my relationship ended.

When I found out that I’d have to move on campus because I couldn’t afford to live in an apartment on my own, I was absolutely heartbroken. The unfortunate and painful truth is, as a college student, situations change all the time. I made the mistake of making a 10+ year-long commitment that I couldn’t keep. I was lucky that my animals went to amazing and loving homes, but some animals aren’t so lucky.

https://pixabay.com/en/dog-view-caught-fence-captivity-1136335/

There is a huge abandonment rate of animals among college students. From my own experience, my old roommate adopted a small dog only to surrender her 2 weeks later because of the responsibility. I had 2 other roommates that both adopted kittens, but then realized that they couldn’t afford to take them to the vet to get their vaccinations. Students have a hard time thinking about the commitment and investment involved in having animals. Or worse, they don’t realize the responsibility.

When you have an animal, you have to be home at least once a day to feed it. If you go out of town, you have to either take it or have someone care for it. If you go out and party and spend the night away from home, you have to come home first thing in the morning to take care of your animal. In reality, pets don’t fit the common college lifestyle, and both the animal and the owner end up suffering for it.

I’m not saying that nobody that’s in college should ever adopt an animal, but I am saying that it is a decision that needs to be heavily considered in the financial, commitment, and responsibility aspects. If you really cannot stand not having an animal in your life, try being an animal foster! I am a kitten foster for a local shelter and I absolutely love taking in the little munchkins for 2-4 weeks before they go to a forever home. I can pick weeks that work with my schedule and I get my fix of furry affection without the commitment. Remember, if you can’t give your animal the kind of life that you’d want, it’s better to wait until you’re able before adopting an animal.

https://pixabay.com/en/adorable-animal-cat-cute-feline-1868563/

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format