If the kid attends Eckerd or some college that allows pets and they already have a pet, then that would be fine. But if a kid is moving off campus and thinking of getting a dog…maybe wait until after college. Pets take a lot of work. And parents don’t want to be stuck being the owners of their kid’s dog.
Totally different if the kid is thinking of taking the family pet to college, but even then, make sure the kid is willing to take the time to give the pet proper attention and care!
My daughter graduated from college, got a job, and for some crazy reason, decided to get a Husky puppy. Her roommates were fine with it, but it’s been expensive and a lot of work. Over the last 2 years, she has had to crate him during the day when she was teaching. She felt very guilty about it, but she couldn’t afford daycare so she would come home every day at lunch to let him out and stretch a bit. She also underestimated how expensive a vet/boarding can be, and she found she had to say no to social things at times because she had to consider the dog. She recently moved to attend grad school. While searching for an apartment, she found that many complexes that allow pets restrict certain breeds (which limited options for her), and they charge deposit fees and extra monthly fees for pet owners. She couldn’t live in her first choice (because of the restriction), so she wound up renting a 2 bedroom (with no roommate) which was more expensive but she needed space for the dog. She loves the dog and he is a great companion, but I think she now realizes she underestimated all that dog ownership entails.
Yup. My own life has restrictions and expenses due to my much loved and wanted dogs. If I want to travel, someone has to take care of the dogs. Even if Im gone just for a day, someone has to take care of the dogs that day. Any rentals and any place I want to visit, taking the dogs, has to allow them.
I have the time and money and I also have enough supportive family to manage the dogs, but they are a major consideration in anything I want to do.