<p>I know a lot of kids jump at the chance to get a pet when they move into their first apartment as a junior or senior . . . Please remind them that pets can cause an incoming tsunami of bills in a short amount of time! I say this as someone who has had over $2,000 worth of vet bills this month, mostly tying in to one late night emergency vet visit. Thank God this happened at a time when I have a full time job, rather than when I was ramenning my way through college.</p>
<p>If they do get a pet, tell them to get pet insurance and make sure they know where the nearest emergency clinic is!</p>
<p>Pets also require time and attention…dogs need companionship and need to be walked, cats, while more independent, still do value time and companionship, a clean litter box, etc. College kids are usually pretty short on time to do all of the above, and that’s just not fair to the pet.</p>
<p>One of my daughter’s graduate school friends served as foster home (cat/kitten) while in school. She had none of the major expense of owning a pet yet helped her local SPCA in times of overcrowding or with an animal that needed some “people” time before adoption. (One kitty she fostered had an eye infection that needed a dose or two of medicine a day till it cleared; then the kitty could be adopted.)</p>
<p>Anyway, college-age kids might look into this option if they miss a family pet.</p>
<p>My oldest has gone through foster training through her state humane society.
( She lives with her BF who already has a dog)
They recently fostered three border collie pups for a couple weeks. it was her BFs idea.
However puppies take lots of attention, and it was too much when she was still in school. But they’ve all been adopted.
The girls were raised with two cats who died at 21 & 20, and a black lab who lasted till she was 16.
Lots of love, but a major responsibility too.</p>
<p>But I know our youngest would love for us to get another dog.
I just have to prepare my living room.</p>
<p>Yes! My daughter thought it would be a great time to get a puppy after graduation as she didn’t have a job and was going to be living at home for a while. My husband was all for it as he had been on me to get a second dog. Days after bringing the puppy home, my daughter gets a job offer! One guess as to which family member got the pleasure of taking care of and training the puppy ;)</p>
<p>Seven months later one of her applications in another city was finally looked at; a job in the city she wanted to live in with a company she wanted to work for was offered. We did tell her we would keep the puppy until she got settled in; my husband loves this dog, she he was happy to have him stay. Two months later the dog broke his leg while playing and somehow had swallowed a peach pit and ended up having major surgery, not once, but 4 times! Three months of recovery and $8K later, all was well with the dog to have him make the move to DC with my daughter. Five months later my daughter get a promotion and has to travel internationally. She was usually gone for a week at a time, and while her roommate was able to take care of the dog some of the time, there were times the dog had to be boarded to the tune of $400/week. My daughter finally realized that as much as she loved her dog, it wasn’t fair to him to have to be boarded and away from home so often. After only being gone from our home for 8 months, he returned. Again, my husband is a happy camper to have him back here; I am not sure my older dog agrees </p>
<p>My suggestion for those that think they need a pet-foster or get a fish!!</p>
<p>Growing up, I was always in a 1/2 dog home + a cat. We often fostered and acted like a doggie and kitty motel. I know the effort that goes in to it. I know the attachment issues but the great rewards as well. </p>
<p>That said, I could not imagine having a pet right now. They take so much time, effort, and money!</p>
<p>When I move on to graduate school, I hope to be able to foster older dogs or cats. Older dogs are harder to place and often just need that extra time to find that special forever home. Cats are much easier to foster because they don’t need as much attention.</p>
<p>Another thing kids should keep in mind is that having a pet can make it very difficult to find a place to live upon graduation (not to mention more expensive). I live in a college town and, sadly, animals that “seemed like a good idea at the time” are abandoned at the end of every spring semester.</p>
<p>Pets are expensive, but if your child is properly equipped to care for one, they shouldn’t be totally counted out.</p>
<p>I just started my PhD and got a kitten. I’m living alone for the first time, and knew I’d go a bit mad without some company. However, I also made very sure I had enough money to properly care for a cat, no matter what happens.</p>
<p>^^^^^As long as you are home for a few hours a day, a cat is a great idea, assuming you can afford health care, food, litter, etc. Cats can be great companions. I have two dogs as well, but they cannot be left alone for a couple of days like my cat can, so after our two dogs eventually pass, no more dogs for me. But I will always have a cat. </p>
<p>My cat is very affectionate. She does okay if I leave her for a couple of days (we have a lake house we visit on the weekends), but then she sticks to me like glue for a couple of days after I return home. My D says our cat “stalks Mom.” :D</p>
<p>I got a guinea pig and a pet rat during college, and I did not take care of them as they deserved. Smaller animals are just as much work as dogs and cats, in case of guinea pigs, even more work (I have both a dog and two guinea pigs, so I know). They also require much more space than an average dorm room, 7.5 sq feet. </p>
<p>Pets do require a ton in medical expenses. I also had about $1,500 in vet bills for one of my piggies this year, and that’s non emergency care. I have insurance for my dog, but insurance is pretty expensive too, and you have to pay up front before filing a claim. A good insurance company, like Trupanion or Pet Plan is a great help. </p>
<p>Finding apartments is also really hard. I had to leave my first apartment mid-lease, finding a sublettet to cover expenses, when I adopted my dog. The whole process was a lot of work and stress. </p>
<p>Finally, traveling will be impacted. You have to make sure you always have someone who can keep your animals. I personally don’t think it’s fair to have an animal put in some kennel for two weeks where he gets two hours of cage free time a day. There are alternatives, like host families, where the dog can live with a family, but that option is expensive, although that’s the only one I do. </p>
<p>Can it all be done? Sure. But the person getting the pet needs to understand it’s 100 percent commitment, and it has to come before a new job, vacation, apartment, or a new boyfriend or girlfriend that’s allergic.</p>
<p>Same here, but I always like to have (at least) two pets so they can keep each other company. We have a cat now who is might as well be a dog, anxious to please, not so superior.</p>
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<p>Seeing Eye Puppy Club is one of the most popular clubs at D1 school. Puppies are allowed in on-campus apartments. You can be a puppy sitter even if you aren’t raising one.</p>
<p>Lol sorry m2ck and Nrdsb4. I meant to go back and change it because I realized how it looked afterwards. But editing on the phone is so difficult!</p>
<p>We have a friend with a “1/2” dog. He lost two limbs in an accident so we call him halfy. He’s a wonderful dog who was abandoned by his owners when vet bills became too expensive. Our friend has a knack for taking in the “unwanted” animals (like Halfy and his fursiblings- a blind boxer, a deaf pit bull, and a cat with a whole lotta issues).</p>
<p>Fostering can be a great option for students. I foster for our local shelter, and we have a fair number of students who foster–some of whom doen’t have any permanent pets. </p>
<p>Cats especially can be easy–they don’t requre as much time. But I do know a number of students who foster dogs too. Mostly athletic/outdoorsy types who take the dogs running, etc.</p>
<p>Our shelter (and I assume others) often need short-term fosters, for a week or two (recovery after being fixed, etc). This can be an option for students during less busy times in their schedule.</p>
<p>And students who miss their at home pets can likely find an outlet to volunteer with animals too. Our shelter often has student groups come to walk dogs, play with the cats, take animals to adoption events, etc.</p>
it was her BFs idea.
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