Walking through the Village one night Coors found himselfwithout a home and someone to love. Picked up by a stranger, he wastaken to a temporary home until a permanent one could be found.
Coors is a two-year-old Husky who was found Saturday night onDill Street and was taken to Animal Rescue Fund by a volunteer.
The dog is healthy and now just needs a home, ARF volunteer JannUwbank said.
Uwbank said she believes Coors is only one of the hundreds ofanimals abandoned by college students.
Students who come to college and leave behind a pet often findit easier to fill the void by adopting a new pet, she said. Whilethe idea of a pet may seem nice at the moment, college studentsoften find they cannot handle the time or the money commitment thatcomes with a pet, she said.
Uwbank said it costs $300 to $400 a year for a healthy pet and$600 to $700 a year for good care.
Good care for a pet includes grooming, food, vaccinations andproper flea treatment, Uwbank said.
These high costs might result in students abandoning their petswhen they move or dumping them at overcrowded shelters.
Currently, ARF has 40 dogs and 70 cats and kittens all of whichwere either strays, abandoned or abused.
"Every May and August we get abandonment calls," Uwbanksaid.
ARF receives 20 calls a year from landlords finding an abandonedpet.
"(Landlords) come to clean the house and find that the tenantshave left their pet," Uwbank said.
Many students abandon their pets because they have to move andare not allowed to have a pet in their new house, she said.
Senior Erin Martin moved into her house in August and ever sincehas been feeding a stray cat.
"The cat was very friendly and came right up to me," Martinsaid. "I think it used to have a home because it always tries toget inside."
Martin does not know whether the cat belongs to someone or not,but said once the snow comes she will take it to a shelter.
Although it is hard to have a pet while in college, somestudents work through it and find it rewarding.
Junior Katie Hougland is the proud owner of a one-year-oldChihuahua, named Lucy. Lucy was dropped at Hougland's grandmother'shouse and Hougland took her in.
While she said she loves the dog, it is also a huge timecommitment.
"During my breaks between classes I have to come home now andlet her out," Hougland said. "I used to be able to just go to thelibrary."
The attention pets need may not be fully understood by studentsuntil they actually have a pet.
"Pets need someone home with them every night," Uwbank said."They need a regular schedule."
This regular schedule is hard to come by for many collegestudents having classes, jobs and social lives.
Before ARF allows anyone to adopt an animal they have them fillout an adoption form that ask for the amount of time the animalwill be alone. It also asks for past pet experience and whether ornot animals are allowed in the house or apartment where they willbe taken to.
ARF often asks for references and the landlord's phone number toreassure the animal will be taken care of.
Uwbank said there are ways to have a pet without the commitmentsuch as volunteering at an animal shelter.
"Sticking to fish is always a good idea too," Uwbank said.
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