Adopting a pet is an enticing part of the transition into adult life, but not everyone is ready for the commitment.
For some students, coming back to school is the perfect time to make a new friend. For others, they choose to find one of the furry variety.
Kelly Coy, the president of Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs, said with the beginning of the school year, Athens shelters see an influx in pet adoptions. But, some students might not be prepared for the commitment that comes with it.
There are many factors, Coy said, that students must consider before deciding to open their home to a pet.
“I think that people don’t think about a dog as anywhere from a five- to 15-year commitment, sometimes even a 20-year commitment,” the senior studying marketing said. “They don’t expect to have it for the long haul.”
Another factor students must consider is whether their landlords allow pets in the first place. Ohio University Department of Housing and Residence Life prohibits all animals in dorm rooms, except for fish.
Coy said that hopeful adopters also might not expect the time it takes to take care of a new pet and give it the necessary training.
“Adopting animals is not an impulse thing,” she said.
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Heather McDowell, a board member of the Athens County Humane Society, said some students who had pets at home before coming to college may underestimate the amount of work that comes with being the primary caretaker.
“There’s a pretty good chance their parents were buying the food and paying the vet bills,” she said.
The required time and effort may come as a surprise but are essential to the pet’s wellbeing.
“It’s kind of a rude awakening just how much time, money and investment you need to put in your pet to get the return of having a good companion,” McDowell, an OU alumna, said. “You’re going to get what you put into it.”
One of the most common reasons for abandonment is an overpopulation of animals due to excessive breeding, which can be prevented by spaying and neutering any new pet.
To prevent animal abandonment, potential owners should plan carefully and weigh scenarios that could result in them being unable to take care of the pet.
Though some students might succumb to the consequences of being an ill-prepared pet owner, Coy said that is not the case for all.
“Students have greatly helped the Athens shelter,” she said. “A lot of them are more than mature enough to understand the cost and can care for them. If hard times do come on them, they properly re-home them.”
Because of the impoverished nature of the area, Coy said some Athens residents cannot always care for their pets and end up either “dumping” them, or more preferably, taking them to a shelter.
“Unfortunately, in the Athens area, we are a low-income county,” she said. “There are a lot of people who are struggling to make ends meet, and they have a hard time caring for animals.”
If a pet owner can no longer care for an animal, he or she should assure the animal has a safe transition into its new home. Options for rehoming animals include craigslist posts, shelters or giving the animal to a friend.
Coy recommended charging a “rehoming fee” in order to seed out malicious pet seekers, who might be attempting to obtain free pets for puppy mills, pet hoarding or dog fighting. Also, a fee can ensure that the new owner will be able to financially provide for a pet.
Those who want the benefits of pets but might not be ready for a full commitment have options as well. Students can volunteer at the Athens County Dog Shelter or for the Humane Society to play with animals but not take them home.
“Therefore, you’re meeting your needs, but not necessarily having the commitment,” McDowell said.
Fostering allows pets to be taken home for a temporary amount of time, unlike the more permanent nature of adopting.
James Anderson, a senior studying geology, recently adopted a cat from a litter from a local thrift shop.
Anderson was prepped for this new addition as he had grown up with cats and made sure it was amiable with his roommate's ferret.
“It’s a stress relief, a kind of comfort,” Anderson said. “You get home and sit down and you have a little kitten purring and rubbing its head against you — it’s kind of a nice feeling.”
However, the adoption of a cat came with one downside.
“The litter box kind of stinks,” he said.
