Yesterday marked the one month of my family having a dog, and what a wild month it has been. I’ve wanted a dog for as long as I can remember. I would beg, cry, and bargain with my parents in an effort to get a four-legged friend added to the family. Year after year my brother and I were denied a pet. Excuses such as, “Your schedules are too busy” and “They’re a lot of work and even more money” came flowing out of my parents’ mouths as if they were automatic recordings. We eventually gave up around high school, but held hope that one day we would have a dog.
During the fall semester, my brother kept telling me he was ready for a dog. So, one nasty, rainy day during the holiday break we went around town and looked at dogs. We went to our local humane society and about an hour later walked out with a new family member. My brother adopted a seven-month-old Labrador Retriever/Boarder Collie mix. After just one month of having a dog here is what I suggest to any of you Collegiettes considering getting a pet while in school.
An FSU bandana and a bone- this pup was ready for the National Championship!
Pets In College- Top Three Pros
1. They’re fuzzy, adorable, and make great cuddle buddies!
2. They’ll make you laugh on a stressful, hard day. Have you ever watched a dog try to eat a bone with a cone around his head? It’s hilarious.
3. If you’re bad at fitting in exercise into your daily routine, a pet is like a personal trainer. You have to take them on daily walks or runs. You’ve got a new workout buddy!
Pets In College- Top Three Cons
1. THEY ARE EXPENSIVE! Vet visits, food, toys, and damage repair… it all adds up pretty quick!
2. They need a lot of love and entertainment. College schedules and spontaneity aren’t always the best fit for pets that need someone home loving them and taking them for walks.
3. They’re destructive. I think the song “Wrecking Ball” is Buoy’s (my brother’s dog) anthem. He means well, but his tail and teeth like to knock down and tear up everything.
Buoy is not a fan of baths!
So there are definitely both pros and cons to having a college canine. My advice to all of you considering adopting a four-legged friend is to seriously evaluate your schedule, your lifestyle, and your budget. Pets are wonderful and make us feel happy, loved, and all sorts of other good things, but so are spur of the moment road trips with friends, sleeping in, and having extra money to spend shopping- all of which are harder to do with a pet. I think Jerry Seinfeld said it best when he stated, “Dogs are the leaders of the planet. If you see two life forms, one of them is making a poop, the other one is carrying it for him. Who would you assume is in charge?” You lose a lot of freedom, but gain a lot of love. In the end it’s up to you, Collegiettes, to decide! A leash can be a wonderful accessory, especially when you look at how cute the pup is at the end of it.