College and my dog?

Parents Forum
21

<p>Decades ago, I took my Labrador dog to college. I did have several roommates in my off-campus house and they loved the dog. My dog went on long walks with us, sat adoringly at the feet of my housemates as they were studying, and generally just became a great “mascot” for our group. She lived to be 15 and we credit her longevity to her active lifestyle when she was at college. My friends (both the ones who lived in dorms and the ones who lived off-campus) loved her and always asked about her after our college days were over. Many students had dogs at college, and I always felt sad when I would hear in later years that the dog had died. They were part of my college memories. </p>

<p>In an off-campus house with a few housemates, someone is almost always home which is a better life for a dog than many other situations. Just make sure that your friends are good people, and not apt to treat a dog poorly or get a dog intoxicated as some fraternity brothers did on campus. Also, make sure that you are the one to feed, water, and walk the dog daily, so that you don’t take advantage of your friends. In time, they will probably take the dog out with them for walks too. </p>

<p>I do not think I would have been able to handle the dog if I was living by myself, however.</p>

22

<p>I think a lot depends on where you’re going to college, what kind of college life you expect to have (are you a partier? do you study at home?), and how serious you are about the dog.</p>

<p>My daughter took her cat to college with her; it was just never a question that the cat would go. Reed has cat dorms and the cat was fine. Cats are easier to leave than dogs, but a few of her friends had dogs as well. After college, she had no problem finding a living situation that welcomed her cat.</p>

<p>However, my son’s cat was NOT able to go to college with my son. The situation just wasn’t appropriate. MIT was not welcoming; the flights would have been problematic, etc. </p>

<p>I think you need to work with your brothers to help you take care of the dog while you’re at college. Semesters are simply not that long, and your brothers and family should be able to manage one semester while you scope out the situation and see what happens next. You may well be able to find a situation that works for the next year.</p>