Almost everyone loves a cute, cuddly puppy or kitten. And as tempting as it is to buy that doggy in the window, it's wise to stop and think about the responsibilities involved with keeping a pet before plunging into ownership.
According to statistics from the Humane Society of the United State Web site, 39 percent of Americans have at least one dog, while 36 percent have at least one cat.
Those are impressive numbers, but owning a pet takes a lot of responsibility, especially for busy college students. Although many students own pets and take excellent care of them, some make quick decisions without thinking about the responsibilities or consequences involved with owning an animal.
According to Melissa Jones, small animal supervisor for the Muncie Animal Shelter, 100 animals are adopted from the facility each month. Of those, one or two will be returned. According to Jones, the animal return rate is higher in the summer months when the school year ends.
While the number of returns specifically from college students can't be determined, Jones said students tend to take pets back to the shelter simply because they don't have a place to keep them when they return home for the summer. Some returned animals come from landlords who find abandoned pets in apartments or houses.
When it comes to deciding whether or not to get a pet, Jones advises that students think about their schedules and living arrangements beforehand. For example, some apartment complexes forbid pets while others charge a non-refundable pet deposit and a monthly pet rent.
Marissa Croup, leasing agent at Windermere Place Apartments, said that about one-third of the residents in the complex own a pet. At Windermere, students are charged a $100 pet deposit and $10 per month.
Students who think sneaking a pet into the complex would be a good way to avoid paying the extra fees involved with having an animal may want to think twice before doing so. At Windermere, students with pets are required to submit veterinary records and a picture of the animal at the lease signing. When furnace filters are changed and inspections are done every few months, apartment staff will be on the lookout for any illegal pets.
Students who are not home very often may also want to think about amount of noise a pet would make if left alone for extended periods of time. At Windermere, people with nuisance pets are sent one written notification as a warning, and any complaints thereafter result in a fine.
There are other expenses students need to think about before purchasing a pet, too.
In Muncie, the Bethel Avenue Animal Hospital charges $145.50 to spay and remove the front claws on a cat. That means a student with a minimum wage job would have to work almost 25 hours to pay for the procedure. And those figures don't include the cost of vaccinations, food and yearly examinations.
Owning a pet is a huge responsibility and something students should consider quite seriously. Rushing to the shelter to pick out a cute kitten may seem like a good idea at the time, but there are serious commitments involved after the initial purchase.
Write to Katie at ktmastin@bsu.edu
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
