Let's face it, we all love our pets. They become family very quickly after we get them, and the bonds we create with them are priceless. If you have a pet, you understand exactly what I am talking about. If you haven't had a pet, you are missing out on something special.

I cannot remember a time in my life when my family did not have at least two dogs while I was growing up. We're dog people. A world in which we didn't have a furry friend was one we were interested in.

I got my first dog when I was a freshman in high school. By "first dog," I mean a dog that was solely mine. I was responsible for training and raising her. My parents obviously helped out because I was in school, but she was my responsibility until I went to college. By that time, I had also acquired a second dog. They were basically my children. People hate when I say that, but it is the closest thing I can relate them to in terms of loving ownership.

For two years of college, my dogs lived at home with my parents. It was definitely difficult being away from them for so long after I had grown used to having them around all of the time. I had to adjust to not seeing them every day, and I had to settle for the random pictures and videos that my mom would send to keep me updated. It was rough.

Now I live in a house with a backyard and can finally have my dogs live with me again. After experiencing college with and without a pet, I feel that I can offer some valid pros and cons on the subject. So if you're considering getting a pet, then read on.

Cons

Let's just get the bad stuff out of the way. Having a pet is a huge responsibility. You are responsible for the life and well-being of another creature besides yourself. Your pet depends solely on you for food, water and exercise. You are their entire world, and if you cannot dedicate time to them, you shouldn't have them in the first place.

The main con, in my opinion, is time management. My dogs need to be let out to the bathroom every few hours and having a busy schedule makes that difficult sometimes. I cannot stay out late anymore unless I find someone to take care of them, and I cannot just up and take road trips like I used to because I have two more lives to think about. They have to be the first thing I think about when I am planning my days. I even have to go home in between classes sometimes to make sure they're all right. If you have a job, that becomes one more moving part to add to the equation.

Another con is that my dogs need to be exercised multiple times a day. This means that I cannot just lie in bed all day like I have been known to do occasionally (note: regularly). They are a very active breed of dog with loads of energy, and a walk in the morning and at night is necessary to keep them from bouncing off the walls. This also means that I might have to sacrifice a hangout with friends to take my dogs to the park to let them run and play.

The days of sleeping over at a friend's house are practically over if you get a pet. Unless you have an amazing roommate who does not mind helping you out, you are stuck having to go home every night to be with your fur babies. This is not necessarily a horrible thing, but sometimes, you just want to crash at your best friend's place.

Depending on the type of pet you have, they are probably messy. My dogs shed, so I am stuck vacuuming every single day. I have to clean my floors and wash my bed sheets constantly to keep my room clean. It is a neverending cycle of them tracking in dirt and burrs and me trying not to pull my own hair out of frustration. Not to mention that pets smell, too. Giving my 40-pound dogs a bath is not the easiest task in the world, but I am forced to do it if I want to be able to sleep in the same bed as them.

Pets are also expensive. Unexpected vet bills can arise at any given moment, and because we would do anything for our pets, we pay whatever. Pet food is a necessity, and obviously we need treats to give our cute friends. They'll need toys and bath supplies and grooming tools and whatever else we see that reminds us of the animals we love dearly. Not to mention pet deposits are outrageously expensive at most places.

Pros

If you've made it this far, you are ready to hear about the pros of having a pet in college. In my opinion, they outweigh the cons by far.

The biggest pro of having a pet is that you have a friend no matter what. You are never alone. Your pet loves you unconditionally and will literally do anything with you. Animals have a weird way of picking up on your mood and becoming exactly what you need in any given moment.

Another pro is that you have something to keep you in shape. My dogs make me run them every day, and it keeps me active and healthy. Even just sitting at the park with them makes me feel more useful than lounging in bed.

You also never have to sleep alone. You have a cuddle buddy every single night. Your pet just wants to be with you and would never intentionally hurt you. Their world revolves around you, and nothing is better than curling up with Netflix and your pet after a long day.

Your friends will come over more. After you get a pet, everyone and their mother wants to meet the newest addition. Your friends would probably rather hang out with your pet than with you, but you can't really blame them.

With a pet around, you will never be bored. At any given moment, your pet is down to play or just be with you. Even on your worst days, your animal will love you and cheer you up in a way that only they can.

I mentioned this as a con before, but I think that it is also a pro: You are responsible for another life. This is a huge deal, but it is also a very good lesson to learn in college. However, I would suggest waiting until at least your sophomore or junior year to embark in pet ownership. Most freshmen I know are very immature, and I would not trust them with my dogs' lives.

Having a pet teaches you things about life and about yourself. It teaches you responsibility, ownership, stewardship, caregiving, time management and maturity. I love having my dogs with me while I am at school, but before you make the huge commitment, you should consider all of the positives and negatives and decide what is best for you and your situation.

Your future pet deserves the very best and so do you.