Why college students should not have pets

Normally, when kids go to college for the first time, they don’t know what to do with themselves having so much freedom. A lot of people get pets their second year since most live off-campus. But many of them don’t know what they are getting into when they buy their first pet.

Many people either get cats or dogs for their first pet. Cats are relatively easy to take care of, they really only need food, water and for you to clean their litter box. Dogs, on the other hand, need way more attention and dedication. 

For example, my neighbor got a dog about a month ago. They are never home and I can hear it barking all the time, I feel so bad for it. It is definitely not getting the love and attention it deserves. 

When people get a dog, they don’t always do their research on the type of breed they are wanting. Even worse, some don’t get a breed that fits their lifestyle the best, which can be cruel to the dog. 

There are dog breeds that can fit a college kid’s lifestyle obviously. However, if you are not a runner, maybe you shouldn’t get that husky that needs to be active 24/7. Nothing bothers me more than when I see someone get a dog knowing they won’t fulfill the dog’s needs. College kids usually don’t have the time or patience to train a dog properly.

If you are still wanting a pet but you have a busy life or you aren’t a very active person, then maybe a cat is more your speed. They don’t need as much attention and they have great personalities. 

Pets are also expensive, whether it’s from vet bills or food and toys. College kids don’t have a lot of money to start with, so setting money aside for your pet can be hard when you have other priorities, like rent. 

If you ever decide to get a pet while in college there are two things that I think are important to consider. The first should be what breed of animal would fit your life best and the second should be if you should get a pet from the shelter. 

I am all for the “adopt don’t shop” movement, but not everyone has the time and patience to work with them. This is why it’s an important thing to think about. If you do have the time and patience, then adopting an animal from the shelter would be a good choice for you. 

If you are still having puppy fever, but you know your lifestyle wouldn’t work with a pet there is a very easy solution to your problem: volunteer at a local animal shelter. This would help you with your puppy fever and you can put it on your resume. Most importantly, this would help the animals get some playtime and the love they need.