The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

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Should You own a dog in college?

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Owning a dog is like having a child, according to SMU alumna Jade Zinser. Raising them properly requires difficult, but often rewarding, work. The quandary for Southern Methodist University students, however, is whether the college lifestyle is an appropriate place for a pup.

“I loved having a dog during college but I was not home enough to give him the attention that he deserved so I gave him back to my parents,” said Zinser, who had a “Morkie”, a mix of a Yorkshire terrier and a pure bred Maltese. She had Barley during her junior year but found caring for him was just too stressful on both her and her roommates.

After speaking with a veterinarian and several past and present SMU students — some dog owners and some decidedly not — it is clear that owning a best friend in college takes a lot of thought and effort.

“Owning a dog in college depends on the person,” says SMU junior Traci Penn. “There is not an absolute answer regarding whether college students should or should not own dogs.”

The factors that need to be taken into account include time, finances, and responsibility of the individual, Penn added.

Dr. Ruth Ainsworth, a veterinarian in Houston, said there is more to taking care of a dog than just feeding and watering.

“They need environmental enrichments,” she said. “You have to take them out everyday. Walk them, and enrich their world.”

SMU students who do own dogs make sure that they have enough time and space to take care of their animals. While they acknowledge the difficulties, they insist that the process of caring for a dog is unparalleled in its rewards.

Senior Sean Gatz explains how taking care of his mutt Rusty has changed his lifestyle for the better. He said he stays home more often in order to take care of his pal, which also allows him to get more of his own schoolwork done. He

“This added responsibility also helped me grow,” Gatz said. “It prevented me from going out all the time, which at first was a hassle and I would try to find a sitter.”

Billy Embody, another senior, agrees that taking care of a dog is worth all the work. His dog Ace is a black lab and German Shepard mix and is full of energy.

“You’ve always got a dog with you it seems whether you’re making food at home or taking out the trash. Whatever you’re doing, they’re right at your heels,” Embody says.

On the other hand, some quickly learned that getting a dog was not the best idea.

“I got a dog and it lasted for about two days when I realized that this is not the time in my life to have a dog,” SMU senior Danielle Olson says.

She cites her student position in life as being a hindrance, both for her and for the dog.

“The dog that I got was too big for an apartment. It was a Catahoula, a farm dog that needed more stimulation that I couldn’t provide,” she says. “Especially for college students who don’t always know what their next step is, it is really important to weigh out what you want now versus what is going to be best.”

And if timing is not suitable for dog ownership, the animal should not be the victim, according to senior Hillary Machado. She refers to gender differences as playing a role in ownership suitability.

“I have known male students who own dogs and often end up neglecting them,” she said. “These guys get puppies in the fall and bring them to football games to get girls, often leaving them unattended for long periods of time.”

Machado has female college friends, on the other hand, who make their dog a first priority. “These girls make sure to feed and walk their dogs daily and take them with them wherever they go,” she said.

Ainsworth also said students should consider the financial aspect of man’s best friend before keeping a dog in college. But for those who do take the plunge, at the end of the day “there is nothing better than getting home and seeing a happy dog waiting to greet you. They are the most wonderful creatures.”

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