So when those 18 years are over and it comes time for college, the kids attending college face many changes and challenges. Whether it be leaving from home to go close or far, college is a completely different experience than high school with many more responsibilities. One thing we take for granted those first 18 years of our lives are our animals
For most of us, everything up to this point, all the big and little milestones, or our animals have been there for it. Whether it be a dog, cat, hamster, horse, or any other animal that may have been your first love, leaving them is something that can actually harm you emotionally and mentally. Animals may have been used for a stress relief over the past 4 years and now that just is not an option and college can be a very stressful experience, which brings me to the point of this article:
College students should be allowed to have an animal in their dorms.
Who?- All college kids who feel they need an animal for support. And we should not have to have a doctors note to register them for emotional support animals. There should not be hoops we have to jump through. All students should be allowed one animal per dorm because mental/emotional support from an animal is just as important as physical support for those with service dogs.
What?- Dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, fish, bunnies, or any other indoor animals.
Why?- Because the transition from high school to college can be emotionally and mentally damaging and everyone deserves to have a chance to have the love and support of an animal throughout it. Animals have an affect on some people that nothing else does. Animals are soothing for the soul and make us feel loved when we are down and need that happy face to come home to.
When?- Always. Students should always be allowed an animal. Summer. Fall. Winter. Spring. 365 days a year students should be allowed the love of an animal. And 366 days per year on leap years.
Where?- All dorms at all colleges. Missouri. Minnesota. Texas. Florida. California. The state does not matter. All college students who want an animal should be allowed one in their dorm no matter where they are on a map.
It is bad enough that most colleges require 90% of students to live on campus at least for their first year, they should not be able to deprive us of our love and need for animals. Having emotional and mental support from animals is more beneficial than having emotional and mental support from people. Students would have better success rates if they could have an animal while going through college. I wish colleges would change their rules and realize that students need animals.
