While you’re away at college, you undoubtedly miss things back home. You probably miss your family, your friends, your hometown, maybe even some local restaurants, but above all else—you indisputably miss your pets. Whether you are a dog or cat lover, or maybe even a bird lover, you will quickly understand where I’m coming from. Missing your pets in college is one of the worst pains a person can experience. Not only is it incredibly sad, upsetting, and depressing, but also it may prompt behavior in unhappy pet owners that is often unfortunate and entirely socially awkward. Here are a few questionable things that tend to occur when you miss your pets in college.
You may feel the need to FaceTime your pets
Having your family send you pictures of your pets every day sometimes just isn’t enough interaction. This is completely understandable, and that is why FaceTime is readily available for you to have intimate, one on one time with your pet at any time of day. Although these conversations are generally one-sided, you will still get your daily fill of affection from your pet—even if it involves your pet refusing to look at the phone screen as you plead with it to love you.
You will go up to anyone with an animal and ask, “Can I pet it”?
This is the worst. I hate myself for being this type of person, but I will admit that I whole-heartedly am. No matter where I am, if I see a person walking his or her dog I will undoubtedly walk up to them and ask to pet it. At this point, the conversation can go one of two ways: If you’re a nice dog owner, you will let me lovingly caress your dog for a few seconds while agreeing with my comments that she really is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Or, if you’re not a nice owner (and these are the worst), you will smile politely and quickly walk away, pretending to have suddenly gotten a very important phone call. Both of these scenarios are ultimately embarrassing but a necessary part of life when you’re missing your pets.
If you find a dog at a frat party, you will not leave its side
If there is a “frat puppy” anywhere at a party, you’ll know exactly where to find me: huddled in the corner clutching the dog, generously letting other less fortunate girls pet it. (And by less fortunate, I mean they didn’t get to the dog before me). Although this may be socially frowned upon, I don’t see anything wrong with preferring to spend time snuggling with a furry friend than a being hit on by a drunken boy who keeps sloshing his drink on your leg.
You find yourself picking up stray cats anywhere you see them
This is the stage of missing your pets where your behavior becomes slightly questionable. Suddenly, you decide that every cat you see wandering around is safe to pick up and touch. You somehow become a certified medical professional and determine that the cat is vaccinated and free of rabies. Then, since all of the signs so far are pointing in the right direction, you make the impromptu decision to bring the cat home with you and know in your heart that your roommates will be just as thrilled as you are with the newest addition to your home.
All of these bizarre behaviors can only mean one thing: we should all be allowed to bring our pets to college with us.
