Should College Students Have Pets?

Pets can provide companionship, reduce loneliness and ease stress for college students, but they also can be time-consuming and expensive.

Questions Students Should Ask Before Bringing A Pet To College

If you are a college student, consider the following questions before adopting a pet.

1. Are pets allowed where you live?

If you live on campus, check on your school’s rules concerning pets. Pets may not be allowed in dormitories or only certain kinds of small pets may be allowed. Likewise, if you live off-campus, check with your landlord before you acquire a pet.

What about emotional support animals?

Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), landlords cannot legally deny a tenant having a service animal. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as a dog that has been trained for a specific task for a person with a disability.

While an emotional support animal (ESA) is not technically considered a service animal and landlords are not required by law to accept them, most landlords will accept them as they don’t want to be slapped with a lawsuit for discrimination. Most landlords will require an official ESA letter to accept the pet and/or let you get out of paying the extra pet fee. You can get an ESA letter by visiting a psychologist psychiatrist or licensed therapist.

2. How does your roommate feel about a pet?

If you have a roommate, find out how she feels about animals and whether she has any allergies to them. If she is opposed to sharing living space with a pet, reconsider your plans to adopt a pet. If she is enthusiastic, discuss what kind of pet you plan to get and how you plan to care for it, so that there is no confusion later on about pet-related chores.

3. Do you have enough space for a pet?

Many college students live in small rooms or cozy apartments that are not suitable for large pets. Take the amount of living space into consideration before adopting a pet, both for your sake and for your pet’s sake. A large, energetic dog should not be living in a tiny apartment, and even a cat needs a bit of space to roam.

4. Can you afford a pet?

Caring for a pet may be more expensive than you realize. Talk to friends or family members who have pets to find out what they cost, taking into account food, supplies (beds, collars, toys, litter if you get a cat, etc.), vaccinations and health care, and licenses. If you are living on limited funds, a pet may be a budget buster.

5. Who will care for your pet during vacations and breaks?

Many pets are dropped off at shelters near colleges at the end of semesters when it is no longer convenient for students to care for them. This is neither fair to the pet, which, if it is not adopted, might be euthanized, nor the shelter, so consider up front whether you can make a commitment to care for a pet year-round.

6. Will a pet fit your lifestyle while in school and after graduation?

If you are likely to be moving frequently while in college and relocating after graduation, a pet simply may not be a good fit with your lifestyle at the moment. Ideally, an owner should make a long-term commitment to their pets, such as Persian cats or French Bulldog breeds, as given their relatively long life spans, they will be around long after graduation.

Best Small College Pets

If, after considering the issues above, you conclude that you cannot care for a relatively high-maintenance pet like a dog or cat, you could consider getting a smaller pet like a hamster, guinea pig, bird, or fish. Here is a list of the best top ten small pets for college dorms:

1. Fish
2. Gerbils
3. Hermit Crabs
4. Turtles
5. Hamsters
6. Lizards
7. Chinchilla
8. Snakes
9. Hedgehogs
10. Birds

These pets can provide companionship and help ease feelings of loneliness but are more likely to be allowed by colleges and landlords, require less space, are less expensive to keep, and are less time-consuming to care for.