Living with a pet has boundless benefits. Whether you prefer fluffy bundles of adorableness or exotic, scaly pets, they all are nice to have around. Yes, they are something else to take care of, but it is definitely worth it. Pets are not only fun to play with, but also peaceful to watch. Studies prove that watching fish swim peacefully around a tank has therapeutic effects on people.

It is important to make sure the animal you're thinking of caring for will be happy living in a dorm. For example, my cat likes to go outside about 10 times a day and lurk around my backyard, pouncing on mysterious-looking leaves. She would not be happy living in a small space multiple stories off the ground. If you research pets that are best suited for a dorm environment, many reptiles come up. Turtles and lizards would be well suited, as they don’t need to go outside to run around and use the bathroom like dogs and some cats do. In the UNC Asheville dorms, only fish are allowed, but sometimes a therapy cat is accepted if you get special permission.

The Benefits

Imagine you are sitting in your room at your desk, mercilessly cramming for that test or finishing that essay and feeling stressed out. Then, you look up and see little fish gracefully swimming around in a tank. You may think, “Man, those fish are so chill, why can’t I be a fish?” After watching them for a while, this “chillness” may rub off on you. This calming effect will soothe your worries away, and when people are more relaxed, they sometimes focus better and on more positive things, and they don’t worry about the stress of a deadline. They work to get it done, and still get it in on time. If you watch the following video in full-screen mode (and 720p HD), you can see some of the positive effects for yourself.

In addition to these calming effects, pets could also keep you company if your roommate went out for the night and you just wanted to chill in your room. With a pet, you're never alone! Of course having people come over to your room is fun too, and having a cool pet in your room might be a good segue into inviting someone over.

Many of you may know of the beloved therapy dogs who come to campus in times of students' need, such as exam week. Research has shown that petting dogs and having other animals around can lower blood pressure, boost moods and increase social interactions. These are some of the reasons why nursing homes will often have dogs and/or cats roaming around, and hospitals will sometimes bring in animals for patients.This is great, but it is not always practical to have a dog living in a dorm room, especially if you are on an upper floor.

The benefits of having the right pet definitely outnumber the duties that come with it. So if you're looking to enhance the relaxation qualities of your dorm or just want a nice animal to be friends with, consider looking into different pets (or different types of fish) to have in your room to see what would be best for you!