Taking Your Pet to College

College students are making plans and packing up to go back to school. Just drive around Auburn and you can see pickup trucks and trailers full of furniture backed up to front doors. Soon our town will be full again. 

Going off to college can include bringing your pet. For me it wasn’t a pet that I brought from home, but a dog I adopted once I moved to Auburn. In hindsight maybe it wasn’t the best choice I have ever made, especially at a time in my life when good choices were not always a priority. 

Before you or someone in your family decides to take a pet to college, consider these possible hurdles: 

• Do you have the time to commit to a pet? College life brings a whole new set of time commitments to a young adult. Late nights and early mornings can be common just like sleeping in late. Are you going to have a part time job? What about long hours in the library? Having a pet requires time not only for care but also companionship.

 

• Do you have the space? Will your apartment be big enough for a dog. What about campus housing do they allow pets? Will you be on the third floor and have to walk your dog downstairs every time he needs to go out?

 

• What about roommates? Do your roommates know you will be bringing a pet? Do you know they might be bringing a pet? If there is more than one pet in the apartment do they get along?

 

• Can you afford a pet away from home? Pet care can be expensive. Not only is there the expense of food and regular veterinary care, what happens if your pet needs emergency care? Too often college students don’t realize how expensive caring for a pet can be because their parents took care of most of these expenses.

 

• What happens when you go on spring break? Or for that matter a long weekend? Do you have friends who can care for a pet or will your parents be OK doing it? Boarding a pet can be expensive.

 

College can be an exciting time in the life of a young adult. Maybe including your cat or dog might not be the best idea at least for the first year. If you just can’t handle not having an animal in your life, consider a hamster, Guinea pig or maybe even a frog. While they still require a commitment it is much less than that of a dog or cat. 

The Humane Society Weekly Wish: Don’t forget Woofstock 2009, a day in the park with your dog, is in less than two weeks. Woofstock is scheduled for Saturday, August 22 from 9 am until 2 pm at Kiesel Park in Auburn. As in years past there will be quite a few activities all designed to entertain dog people and their pets. I hear there will be some great rock-n-roll courtesy of Spicer’s Garage Band Camp participants. Join us for a great day that benefits the animals at the Lee County Humane Society.

Jack Fisher, 

Board of Directors