I haven't read through this whole thread yet but this comment caused me to stop and respond already!! First of all, who of us, college student or not has a crystal ball and can see what the future will hold? While I agree that the optimal candidate for a dog might not be a college student there are plenty of settled adults who shouldn't be a candidate anymore than a college student! The thing that should be looked at is the maturity of the person and the love, care and commitment it can bring to a dog...period. I got my cocker spaniel Marley from a boyfriend at the age of 19 in college...through many of life's ups and downs she was there for me and I for her. We were the best of friends and she was the one who kept me sane through a few of life's tragedies including a divorce and several miscarriages to name a few. I never would have considered even a first date with anyone who didn't accept Marley too, wouldn't have chosen a place to live where she couldn't have come right along with me! Never in a million years could I have imagined where my life would take me in the 17 years she was alive AND WITH ME the entire time! What I did know was that we would do it together! I held her in my arms last march as she passed from this earth into a final resting place and one thing is for certain, she has and always will be my best friend and I hers. The argument should not be a whether a college student can own a dog but whether anyone college student or not is prepared to make a commitment to that dog whatever life brings, whatever that "crystal ball" holds for the entirety of that dog's life! Judging whether or not college students can own dogs in one foul swoop is a mistake...it clearly is about any person's commitment to the dog they will own and age has absolutely nothing to do with it as most of us know full well...
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Originally Posted by Ladymom  I'd like to see those statistics, too. Getting a puppy while you are in college is a (hopefully) 15 year commitment to the dog. Those 15 years will probably be the most unsettled of your life. When you graduate, jobs may require long hours or long commutes. Most likely you will rent for awhile and it can be difficult to find pet friendly rentals in many areas. Even when you do, they have a limit on the # of pets allowed, usually one or two.
Flash forward a few years and you may want to get married and have children. DH may not like dogs or come with a dog who may not be good around smaller dogs. Many pets are given up when babies are on the way or later on due to children's allergies.
Also remember that as your dog ages, the vets bills will increase. If you are paying off college loans, perhaps a mortgage on a house, trying to pay for a wedding or daycare, a $1000 vet bill for tests and treatment may be difficult to handle.
Unless you have a crystal ball, it is not possible to make a 15 year commitment to a pet when you are a college student. |