Janine Savoie – Special to the Southern News
If you told me a few years ago that I would own a horse and dog going into my senior year of college, I probably would have thought you were crazy. When I began my college career, pet ownership was the last thing on my mind. Of course like any horse crazy girl I have been expecting to see a pony under my Christmas tree for about 20 years now but who knew that I would take matters into my own hands while in college?
Growing up I had a few family pets, but none that I take true responsibility for. Mom and Dad took care of the dog and the only thing I had to do was let it out when I got home from school. Now I have my own dog that I’ve raised from a puppy and recently I bought my first horse. When it comes to owning pets in college I have quite the grasp on what it’s like.
Of course there will always be pros and cons to the situation. In this case, I would say that there aren’t too many pros involved. A lot of people, even doctors, will tell you that the companionship of an animal is life changing but I don’t think that means you should rush into getting a pet. However, it is nice to cuddle up on the couch at night after a long day or go for a hike on the weekend; your pet it always there for you.
A dog for example, is probably the only kind of companion that is always happy to see you even if you yelled at him hours prior. You can talk to your pet, vent to your pet, yell at your pet, and they won’t talk back! The love I have for my dog and my horse is like no other and they will both have their forever homes with me, but if I could go back, I would not have become a “mom” so quickly.
What many people don’t take into account, even when they are out of school, is the added responsibility. Owning a pet means you need to invest not only your time, but your money! RaisingSpot.com says that it can cost anywhere from $5,000-$33,000 for the lifespan of a dog. My dog took an emergency trip to the vet and the unexpected bill was not very pretty.
I work hard to keep my pets so that they are well fed, happy, and healthy! The expense and responsibility of pet ownership is almost like having a child. If you can’t be home during the day, you have to find someone to let them out. If you can’t feed them, who else is going to?
The best advice I could give to a student looking into pet ownership would be to wait until you are out of school. Find yourself a good job, become financially stable, have a place to call home, and then ask yourself if you are ready and have time to take on the responsibility of owning an animal. No more spontaneous vacations or late night parties. A pet is an everyday, all day job; another life that you are responsible for. Make the best out of your college experience and wait!
