For the most part all of my homesickness has gone away. I totally am loving college life and have invested in making friends and getting good grades. The one part I still struggle with is periodically missing pets. most notably My two dogs and the horse stable I work at back home [Im extremely bonded to one horse named Blondie} Today was my dogs birthday so it was hard not being there. I am going to facetime with him haha but its not the same. Likewise I have facetimed with the horses and seen they are doing fine. I joined a organization on campus that will be going to volunteer at local animal shelters and im really looking forward to that. It’s not all the time I think about them mostly on special occasions like today or if i see a picture or video. I had a horrible dream last night that my favorite horse got extremely ill and when I came home all the horses had forgotten me and ran away, I know thats just a dream but how do I ease my worries about the animals I love back home?
FaceTiming and volunteering sound like good ideas. Hang in there. Maybe FaceTime more often if it’s really getting to you.
Fantastic idea to volunteer at a local animal shelter. My son is very attached to our dog. He’s been through some tough medical situations and our dog has been the loyal and faithful buddy always ready to give him love and attention and just lay by his side when he needed him to. My son knows he will miss him very much and he has been taking lots of pictures of him so he will have them to look at. Maybe your family can text you some pictures, in addition to your face time calls? The dogs and horses won’t forget you. 
There’s no reason you couldn’t bring one or two dogs, it would be like a semester abroad for them.
It is perfectly normal to miss loved ones (people and pets) especially on special occasions. When that happens know it is OK and try to refocus on all of the positives that going on in your college live – it sounds like you have made a great transition academically and socially. And volunteering in the animal shelter sounds like a great idea.
I disagree with the above post – I would not bring a dog to college – it is a huge responsibility/commitment and likely would not be allowed by dorms or off campus apartments.
@happy1- For someone who has lived with pets a long time, how exactly is it an extraneous responsibility? Yes it’s more work than not having a pet, but I would think OP is used it.
At least around here the majority of off campus housing IS pet friendly, but of course it’s a good idea to check as you said.
Has OP ever been the SOLE caretaker of an animal? Responsible for vet visits? Emergencies? Do they have a car on campus? Are they back in the apartment often enough to take the dog out? Do they have little enough homework to ensure multiple walks a day? Will roommates be nice to the animal? What about helpful? And they’d better make sure it doesn’t bark when they’re not there, because the study time of the neighbors is not to be infringed upon just because OP wants a dog.
@Mandalorian The OP is used to having a dog as part of a family situation where likely the responsibilities are shared. If the OP were to take a dog to college he/she would be the sole caretaker and that is very different.
I would say that having sole responsibility for walking the dog multiple times through the day (so the OP can’t spend all afternoon in class and library because there is a need to go back to the dorm to walk the dog), shopping for food and other supplies the dog requires, feeding the dog daily, exercising the dog, playing with the dog (which I understand is fun but when a student is swamped it is also a responsibility) would be a few “extraneous responsibilities”. In addition the OP would not be able to go away for a night or weekend without either taking the dog or making arrangements for someone to care for the dog. Plus if an emergency came up the OP would need to drop everything to get a dog to the vet. Bringing a dog in college would make the OP responsible for a living breathing thing and this can be difficult during busy/stressful times. I do know a couple of people who have done it successfully it but it must be recognized as a commitment and responsibility. If the OP misses her pets occasionally and especially during special occasions, I’m not sure that would warrant his/her taking on this type of responsibility.
In addition, securing an appropriate living arrangement woudl be challenging. Most colleges do not have living arrangements that would allow a student to have a dog. And many apartments do not allow dogs but of course that varies by location.
dogs are not allowed in the dorms unless it is a service animal
Not OP, but how hard is it to find an apartment in a university town that allows dogs? Would it be extremely expensive?
@blackkitteycat In major cities, I don’t think it would be an issue. In a smaller college town, though, you might have a harder time, simply because your pool of available housing is smaller. In both situations, you have to be prepared to pay additional rent, a higher deposit, or comply with restrictions set forth by the landlord (such as no large dogs, etc.) even if the place is pet-friendly. Even though you know that you’re a reasonable person and wouldn’t allow your pet to destroy the place, they don’t - and these things protect them and their property in case they end up with a renter whose pet does a lot of damage.
In my experience, landlords are (slightly) more relaxed about cats.
@catbird1 Thanks! My dog is pretty small so it shouldn’t be an issue
My daughter has a Nest webcam that shows her Bunny and she can look at her anytime she wants.
Some schools will let you have fish in the dorms. I know it’s not the same as a cat or dog, but if you crave having a little critter, that may be an option.