When you have a pet, having to talk to a shrink, calling your ex to reconcile, or being forced to confide in a smelly roommate are no longer solutions to loneliness. For a college student, the support of a good pet can make life a bit sweeter among a busy schedule of classes and weekend parties.
Their hair may shed, they may smell at times, and it can be difficult to be sure their tanks are cleaned properly, but pets can make college a much happier and enjoyable place to be.
Tom Tiberi, senior associate director of University Apartments, said the only non-aquatic pets allowed in residence halls and apartments are service animals that provide assistance to people with disabilities.
"Animals, such as dogs, that are trained to assist people with disabilities are permitted in the residence halls and apartments but only with the proper documentation," said Tiberi.
With little choice in the dorms, many students have spent a few bucks on fish tanks.
"My roommate had a beta fish last year, so I decided I wanted one and I named it Guntar," said Lindsay Bloom, senior psychology major. 'They're known as Japanese fighting fish and they're very aggressive."
Bloom said her fish must be kept alone in the tank because otherwise it will kill anything else due to its territorial nature. She also said that if provoked, the beta fish can become its own worst enemy, a trait she said gives it an interesting personality.
"If you put a mirror up to the tank, the fish will start running up against the tank, hitting itself and it will eventually bash its own head in," said Bloom.
While URH&A policy limits what pets on-campus residents may own, students who live off campus have the freedom to own the pet of their choice and these rules do not apply.
Some students have chosen cats as their furry friends because they tend to have a special way of making a long and tiring day seem uplifting.
"My three cats are at the door when I get home, they sit on my lap when I do my homework and they're mood elevators," said Kimberly Ramsay, a senior speech and hearing science major who lives off campus.
Ramsay said that cats do make great pets, but they aren't for everyone. They're not the first choice for people with allergies or for people who don't like cats in general but there are other pet options available.
Steven Krebuszewski, a sophomore communication major who also lives off campus, said that after doing some research, he chose a chinchilla as a pet because they were known to have a long life span and they are a great choice for those who want companionship.
"I have a chinchilla named Peepee. I did a lot of research and found that chinchillas are great companions and live long," said Krebuszewski.
Diane DeDominicis, owner of Markeim Pets on Sheridan Drive in Amherst says that any pet requires a specific amount of upkeep and care.
"Different pets have different needs, but it is important to remember that there are no pets that are no-maintenance," said DeDominicis.
DeDominicis also said that although different pets require different maintenance, all pets do offer companionship, and sometimes they can even offer great health benefits for the owners.
"Aquariums can lower your blood pressure and pets that you can touch offer a more tactile relationship that can be soothing," said DeDominicis.
As students, time is a virtue, but in order to be able to fully care for a pet one must be willing to devote the time and the money. Pets do cost money, some more than others.
"I have to buy both kitty litter and food once a week; it can be as much as $40 a week just for my cats, not including veterinary bills," said Ramsay.
Cats and chinchillas both require a lot of attention, but not all pets are as expensive to maintain as a cat or a dog.
"Chinchillas don't need to go to the veterinarian and their food is very inexpensive; the overall cost besides buying him and getting him a cage has been minimal," says Krebuszewski.
Other students who live off campus have chosen a more unique type of pet to own.
"I had extra money to burn over the summer so I went to the pet store and bought a leopard gecko," said Mike Brewster, senior industrial engineering major. "I named it George Dickel after my favorite kind of whiskey."
Brewster also said that the gecko does not do much but it is interesting to watch when it is feeding on crickets.
In accordance with URH&A rules and regulations on pets, some students decided not to break the rules and choose a fish as a pet.
According to DeDominicis, if students are interested in buying a pet from breeders or pet stores, they will not leave with a pet unless they are able to properly provide for it.
"Breeders and pet stores will not allow pets to go home with a person or family that isn't willing to give the animal the proper attention or living conditions," said DeDominicis.
Ramsay said she had to go through an interview before she would be able to go home with her three cats.
"When I went to get the cats, I was asked about my living situation, my finances and obligations. I also had to sign something saying that I wouldn't separate the cats because they are brothers," said Ramsay.
For most students, their pets, no matter how unique, provide a joyful sense of comfort and companionship and have earned an important role in the lives of students.
"Peepee is more responsibility than I thought, but I don't regret getting him, and he's become an important part of my life," said Krebuszewski.
