Pros & Cons of Owning a Pet in College

As incoming freshmen start their packing list for their first year at the Junction Cottages & Townhomes, one thing to consider is whether to bring a beloved pet. For older students, maybe there has been some loneliness involved in the big move. Something a pet just might be a fix for. In either case (and cases in-between), our apartments are perfect for you. Junction Cottages & Townhomes is proud to advertise ourselves as pet-friendly and offer a home to you and your pet companion.

However, pets are not always a good fit for college. The following is a look at some pros and cons of owning a pet during your college years.

The Pros

Companionship. Let’s face it, a desire for companionship is the number one reason to get a pet. Any pet. In fact, sometimes pets are called companionship animals. What this means is that they offer a sense of togetherness, a being to offer company. So when you’re tired of courses or frustrated with work, a pet is there to offer championship. If you have some fish in an aquarium, watching them swim can help your relax. If you have a pet cat, their climbing and cuddle antics will put cheer on your face after a long day. And if you have a pet dog, well, often every minute with them is a gift of companionship. In all cases, pets make fantastic study buddies.
Social aspects. Having a pet also has its social perks. Any pet can serve as a great talking point when you’re trying to meet new friends. Especially when those friends have pets of their own or ones they left back at home. For example, you can share your kitten’s antics as an icebreaker. Or meet new friends at the dog park.
Encourage responsibility. One thing that many incoming students struggle with is responsibility. For most, parents or guardians were the ones who created schedules. They were the ones who woke you up in the morning. They got you to doctor’s appointments and cooked your dinners. Or otherwise ensured you ate. In college, all of these things are left up to you. As such, college life can quickly feel overwhelming for many. Ironically, getting a pet, despite adding more responsibilities to your plate, can actually help a person learn more about managing responsibilities. That’s because when it’s another living being depending upon a person for food, clean bedding/environment, and medical care, it’s often easier to step up. And once you step-up and get organized for another living being, you better learn how to step up and take responsibility for yourself.

The Cons

Housing restrictions and expenses. Yes, our apartments at Junction Cottages & Townhomes is proud to advertise ourselves as pet-friendly — but not all places are. Once you move on from our apartments, you will have to consider pet restrictions. Most places will welcome container pets like fish and hamsters. These are pets that have their own enclosed environment and will essentially never leave those homes to interact with the actual apartment. It is when you choose pets whose home is the apartment or home’s general living area that you generally start seeing restrictions. For example, some apartments and property management companies won’t allow any cats or dogs at all due to the risk of damages. Others will require hefty non-refundable deposits in exchange for those risks. And still others will limit their restrictions to certain breeds. For example, many places today won’t allow pit bulls or rottweilers or any of their mixes. So if you are considering a dog, it is a good idea to think long-term and avoid such breeds when adopting from a local rescue or shelter. If you don’t want to risk a future in which you’re denied housing at all, then consider a container pet.
Expenses. Part of those aforementioned responsibilities come with financial costs. The costs of pet food, bedding, medical care and more. These are expenses you might not have the budget for. Or maybe you simply don’t want to spend the extra money it takes to care for a pet. And that’s totally fine! As long as you recognize now, before you bring a pet into your Junction home. Now, of course, different pets will have different types of expenses. Small birds, for example, after you make that initial bird cage investment will typically have an annual cost of under $200. Keeping fish with a small tank aquarium will typically cost around $500, depending upon the fish species. Cats are the next expensive type of pet, cost an average of $400 to $1,500 depending upon factors like toys, litter type, and medical preventables. Dogs are the most expensive pet to own. Depending upon the size of your dog and other factors, annual expenses tend to range between $500 and $1,700.

Bring Your Pet to Junction Cottages & Townhomes

So, are you ready to share your life with a pet? Or did our article help you decide whether or not to bring your pet to Junction Cottages & Townhomes? We hope so! Contact our team today to learn more about our pet-friendly amenities and to schedule a walk-through of your new apartment.