Until my father adopted a puppy when I was in the fourth grade, I had always asked my parents for a pet as my Christmas present. I was obsessed with the idea of a tiny adorable animal becoming my friend without any judgment. However, once the puppy started living with us, we realized adoration was not enough. I was reminded of this lesson after living with the cat that my roommate had adopted for six months. Although I appreciated the emotional support of the animal, my roommate who brought the cat—who was actually responsible for her—could not enjoy her presence because of the time and monetary commitment that came along with keeping her. We, as college students, are in a unique setting wherein our residences change frequently, and we are required to spend a lot of time studying and staying indoors. Before deciding to have a pet, we must consider a few things first.

The first thing that is important to consider is whether or not we would take this responsibility seriously. Although many students might forget, pets are living organisms whose fates lie in the hands of their owners—they are not a toy, status symbol or something that we should show off for attention. Because animals cannot speak for themselves, it is up to the owners to take responsibility, advocate and ensure that their pets live healthy and happy lives. For this reason, those looking to get a pet must first think about their intention behind getting one, as well as consider their ability to take on the difficulties that come with having one. Having a pet is only a part of our life, but to the animal, we are around for their whole life journey.

Another factor to consider is financial sustainability. We often hear stories about people purchasing cars far beyond their means only to struggle with their payments later on. The same applies to having a pet. The process may start off fun and exciting, but as time progresses, the financial responsibility will start to kick in. For example, when my roommates and I lived with the cat, each member of the dorm had a different role. As a bystander, my duties were to adore the cat, play with it and occasionally give it some snacks and toys as I pleased. On the other hand, the student who owned her had to spend a huge amount of money on frequent vet visits, regular checkups, food, toys, a cat tower, snacks and hygiene supplies. If students decide to get a pet without having the financial means to do so, the likely results include asking others for assistance, giving the animal up for adoption or risking its health and safety.

The third factor that needs to be addressed is residence. Students who live in dorms cannot have a pet unless they are approved of by the university or they live off campus. Also, many students have a shortage of time due to school work and other extracurricular activities, which is likely to result in the animal being left unattended for long periods of time. For those that live off campus, chances are that their apartments are not pet-friendly or require a fee and other regulations. For those that live with other roommates, they have to get consent from the other residents, ensure that their pets do not interrupt them, compensate for any damage that their pets might cause and, if anyone is allergic or has a phobia towards a certain animal, find appropriate solutions to deal with it. Also, if the pet is owned by all members of the dorm, there is room for conflict when discussing concerns over ownership in the future. 

Lastly, we must consider our lifestyle. As students, we are likely to live in a small area with many people, are short on cash, spend most of our time on school work and have little free time. Because of this, having an active pet, such as a Husky, will be unsustainable due to the regular exercise, vet visit and space requirements of Huskies, as well as their heavy shedding nature and their loud barks. On the other hand, having a cat would be an acceptable compromise since students do not have to take cats out for walks, they clean their own litter in the sandbox, do not need a large yard, are good at spending time on their own and are likely not to make a lot of noise. Also, pets that have particular needs, such as ferrets or birds, likely require an understanding of the animal that is difficult to obtain as a student. Taking care of an animal and providing for it throughout their entire lifespan is a fulfilling task. The pet will be with you through thick and thin and will be your friend no matter what. For this reason, we have to make sure that they are taken good care of in return.