There is one thing in life that I absolutely love, and I think most people can agree with me when I say that one thing is a dog. Most of us have grown up with dogs. As a college student, who has moved away and can no longer see their lifelong companion on a daily basis, it’s hard having to go through your daily routine without them by your side. Seeing a dog around campus can just brighten someone’s day. Sometimes adults will walk around campus with them, and sometimes students will.
I personally don’t agree with having a dog while you’re still going through college. I believe as a college student, we have too much going on and too many responsibilities as it is. I completely understand when people do need them as guide dogs or emotional support, but I believe we are unfit to truly give a dog all it needs when it comes to food, attention and training when we're busy going to class and studying all day.
Don't get me wrong: I don’t think that dog owners in college are bad -- I’m not knocking them, and I know they would love and try to care for their dog more than anyone. I just believe that there are people better fit to take care of a dog at that point in time. With college becoming more intense with schoolwork and the competition to get into majors, it’s hard to find time. College is also very expensive, and if you are paying for college all on your own, taking out loans and living off of Top Ramen, then how do you expect to support a dog, too? I will be the first one to admit I have hastily thought many times about purchasing a dog to have by my side with me at college, but the more I think about it, the more unrealistic it becomes.
There are so many factors that go into having a dog, like if your apartment will allow it. You also have to think about the breed and which will go along with your lifestyle. How will you be able to pay for food for them, not to mention all the medical bills that come with a newborn puppy? Will you be able to give a dog the necessary attention to be well trained, or make sure it knows it’s loved? Will you have time to properly potty train it? If you get a dog that has a lot of energy, will you have the time to take them to the park or for a run? You can easily get attached to dog, much like a child, so if you are not able to take care of it like you thought, would you have the will and courage to give it up to a home that would be able to care for it? These are all things to keep in mind when approaching the probability of buying a dog during your college career.
When I sit down and think about all of these questions, my answers are not up to the standards they should be in order to take care of a dog. Owning a dog is similar to owning a child. So, the next time you’re rashly thinking of adopting a furry friend to have by your side, think about whether or not you could have a child at this point in your life, because it is roughly the same thing.
