Your pet isn’t just a cute little Cabbage Patch Kid you can play with when you’re bored — it has needs just like you.
Many apartment complexes near campus allow fish, cats and dogs of certain sizes.
Apartments allowing pets doesn’t mean you should have one. Unless you’re always bored and have nothing to do, why get a dog? A fish is OK, a cat is understandable, but a dog doesn’t make much sense.
Fish and cats entertain themselves for the most part. They don’t need go outside to use the bathroom or walk. According to Dogtime, “a leashed walk around the block isn’t going to cut it.” The majority of dogs need at least 30-60 minutes of exercise a day.
Dogs require everyday attention — you don’t get weekends off or get to call off when you’re sick or tired.
Would you want the responsibility of caring for a child in college? The typical person would say no because common sense tells you extra work, time and money goes into raising a child.
A baby and a dog are clearly not the same thing, but they both require more attention than the average college student may want or have to offer.
Although raising a child is more complicated than caring for a dog, there is a key difference. According to American Humane Association, “unlike children, dogs will never learn to pour themselves a drink or fix their breakfast. Dogs never learn to look both ways before crossing the street, and they can’t stop and ask for directions if they get lost.”
You will always have to feed the dog, bathe it and take it outside. When you pull all-nighters and then decide it’s time to crash, or when you decide to stay out until the wee hours of the night, the dog still needs to be cared for.
Can you honestly handle the stress that comes with being a college student while caring for something other than yourself?
Lets not forget the amount of money that goes into owning a dog. According to DailyFinance, “For most lifestyles, dogs are higher-maintenance, so they’re more expensive [than other pets].”
It’s important to be financially stable when caring for a dog. According to Petfinder, a dog can cost you anywhere from $800-10,000 during the first year. After the first year, it gets cheaper but not by much. Pet owners are still projected to pay anywhere from $500-9000 annually.
You don’t just buy food, a few toys and call it a day — dogs have medical needs like everyone else. They need veterinary exams, vaccinations and monthly heartworm prevention.
Sure, you may have a job to cover the dog’s financial needs. However, having a job raises another question — do you have time to care for a dog while having a job and also attending class five days a week?
Don’t let the dog’s cuteness convince you to take on a responsibility you may not be ready. I’m sure if the dog could “play” ugly for you to get chosen by someone who has the time and money to care for it, it would.
At the end of the day, there aren’t any “dog-control” laws — no one can stop you from adopting the cutest Shih Tzu, Pomeranian or Toy Poodle. Just be mindful of the responsibilities – a dog is a huge commitment financially, physically and emotionally. Don’t let your careless decisions affect an innocent animal’s life.
Clarke Perkins is a 19-year-old political science sophomore from New Orleans. You can reach her on Twitter @ClarkePerkins.