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Pet Ownership 101: Is Your College-Age Kid Ready for a Pet?

By Shannon M. Pecora, MA

Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital

As a college freshman, I witnessed another student physically abuse his young puppy, causing her some serious injuries. Knowing that my small college town had limited animal service resources, I called my mom back home and pleaded with her to help me rescue the poor little puppy. However, my mom insisted that, if I wanted the responsibility, it would be mine alone. Because I had good grades and a good job, she agreed to let me move to off-campus pet-friendly housing; I would just have to pay for all my pet expenses on my own. I also had friends and family members working in the veterinary field, so my mom knew that I would have an excellent pet-care support network. Therefore, I knocked at that other student’s door and offered to help. Pet ownership was causing him more frustration than enjoyment, so I let him know that I was willing to take the puppy off his hands. To my surprise and relief, he immediately agreed to let me take her. I am happy to report that, twelve years later, that dog is a healthy senior citizen, still one of my oldest and dearest friends.

My story has a happy ending, but that doesn’t mean it’s ideal. The fact is that not every college student is cut out to be a pet owner. But as many families have recently sent their kids off for a new fall semester, they might be receiving phone calls similar to the one my mom received from me.

For a variety of reasons, lots of college students want to add pets to their “homes away from home.” Before your college-age child adopts a new pet, here are some things you can help him or her consider:

How demanding is his class schedule? How involved is he with sports or clubs? In other words, does he have the time to devote to pet ownership?
Does he have a job or other financial resources to take care of feeding, training, veterinary, and other such expenses?
What kind of housing is he living in? Will he have to relocate after a difficult search for pet-friendly housing?
Has he had experience with pet ownership within your family? Does he have the knowledge and confidence to be a responsible pet owner?

These talking points should help open up a frank discussion. Parents and students need to be honest about the student’s dependability and maturity. If you have apprehensions, don’t be afraid to tell your child no—at least for now. Who knows; if he keeps his grades up and saves his money, maybe you can revisit the issue next semester. Pets can definitely enrich our lives, but you need to be sure that your child (even at the college adult age) is really ready to be a pet parent.