Having pets on campus residence is complicated and has both positives and negatives. Are pets worth being on campus or are they a nuisance for residents?

Many college students face lots of stress and pressure daily. Pets are proven to be stress relievers, something every student needs. Cats and dogs are among the most popular pets and offer companionship to their owners. Pets can range from dogs and cats to more exotic animals like rabbits and snakes. Preference as well as what dormitories or apartment complexes allow plays a role in the decision to get a pet.

Some may say college students are not responsible enough to care for a pet or are too busy to spend time with it. While pets may take a lot of time to care for, they are also a good step into adulthood for many students. Pets teach students responsibility and time management. Of course, if a student is truly too busy or does not have the resources to care for a pet, the student should wait until they are better suited to give an animal a good life and properly care for it.

Pets can offer emotional support to students in many situations. Symptoms of frequent anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be reduced by the inclusion of a pet as an emotional support animal.

Attention is one of the most vital aspects in caring for a pet. Dogs require exercise and attention, including taking them for walks. Not only does walking benefit the dog, it also gives the owner more of an incentive to work out, contributing to an improvement in emotional and physical health. Baylor College of Medicine in Houston determined that “dog owners were 54 percent more likely than other adults to get recommended levels of exercise.” When spending time walking your dog, you are increasing your health and happiness as well as your dog’s.

It is vital to consider your budget and time availability in order to get a pet best suited for your lifestyle. If you have a low budget, you may want to wait to get a pet or get one that is less costly than a dog or cat. Availability is also important, because you should not get a pet that requires a lot of attention if you’re constantly busy with school or work; this will hurt both you and the pet. Instead, get one that requires minimal attention or two pets to keep each other company.

The life of a college student is often hectic and stressful. Pets can provide relief from all the pressures and worries. With their friendly and loving demeanor, pets offer emotional support to students to ease their stress. A pets contribution to a student’s mental and physical health is beneficial to their overall well being and success.