If you know me, you know there is nothing in this world that I love more than puppies and dogs. They are kind, pure souls that give more love than anything you could ever imagine.
As someone who has grown up with at least one dog in the house my entire life, I could not advocate more for having a canine companion as a member of the family.
But also as someone who has welcomed a puppy into the family, I know exactly how much money, time and work it takes to raise the little rascals. And that is why I always get an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach when college students get puppies.
(I do fully understand and acknowledge that some dogs and animals, in general, are service animals and they have full right and reason to be where they are and who they are with.)
Caring for a puppy takes on very similar aspects to caring for a baby or child. Which I must add, if you ask college students, the majority of them would tell you very clearly that do not have the money or time for that.
Of course, comparing a baby to a puppy is a little extreme, but I wouldn't say it is far fetched.
Just like a baby has doctors visits, a puppy has to be up to date on all of his or her shots, vaccinated, most likely neutered/spayed, and have to visit yearly with the vet, or if the puppy gets sick. Vet visits and shots aren't cheap and can add up quickly. Most college students are full-time and either doesn't work or just make enough for themselves.
As well as a baby or a child, a puppy needs 24/7 attention.
Puppies are rambunctious and curious. They need space to run around an explore and need to be taken for walks to release all their energy. A tiny apartment in a college town is not suitable for a puppy. And as a full-time student, you'll be in class most of the day while the puppy is stuck in a crate because you haven't had the time to house train them. That is unfair to the puppy.
Oh and let me tell you my biggest pet peeve when it comes to college students having puppies. BRINGING THEM OUT TO CROWDED COLLEGE PARTIES. Yes, most puppies are incredibly social and the attention may be greatly appreciated after the lack they've received. But seeing videos of these little ones at parties, they have their tails tucked and their heads lowered. They are super nervous but all that matters is they make the barstool page. College parties are loud, overwhelming and who knows what could be split on the floor and the puppy licks up out of curiosity.
There is so much responsibility that comes with owning a puppy that I don't believe most college students are, not always intentionally, capable of. If you really feel like you can support and care for an animal like a dog, go to a local shelter and adopt an adult or elder dog that requires minimal effort but can still be that companion that you're longing for. Puppies will get adopted, most likely by families who can take care of them. Older dogs spend most of the rest of their lives in those cages. Give them a home to spend their final years if you want a four-legged friend around.
