College is one of the most stressful periods in a student’s life. It’s easy to want to eliminate the stress altogether by adopting a pet since adopting an animal has been known to help immensely with stress and anxiety. However, at college, a student is usually figuring out his own life and may not be able to add another life to that equation. 

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Most of your days in college are spent conducting research, writing, and editing the paper for submission with tight deadlines. Luckily, some services have emerged that averts the stress of college students to some degree. For instance, a customer can buy research papers from this research paper writing service for British students. This is an easier and cheaper way to relieve student stress than having a pet.

If you’re on the verge of adopting a pet, there are several factors to consider first. We’ve listed out the pros and cons of having a cat, a dog, or other animals in college. 

Pros: 

1.  Constant companionship: Pets are excellent companions who stick with you no matter what. Students who find it difficult to make new friends may especially benefit from having animals. They not only listen to your professors’ lectures with you, but they’re also with you through your late-night proofreading and your stressful exams. 

2.  Your exercise buddy: While at college, your health and exercise may take the back seat since finding the time to indulge in such activities may be difficult. Having a dog in college demands that you take him out for frequent walks. These walks provide the students with an opportunity to get fit themselves. 

3.  Helps you make friends: Pets are a great way to break the ice with new people which is especially beneficial for people who struggle to make friends. The best dogs for college students are breeds such as Labradors and beagles that are so cute, they will surely attract attention from your peers and professors. And if you own a scaly, feathered, or a shelled animal, it may be a great conversation starter. 

4.  Helps your mental health: College students experience a high amount of stress and anxiety. Some even get depressed unable to keep up with the pressures of college. One of the benefits of having a pet is the positive effect it has on the student’s mental health. There have been several studies that show animals can increase the levels of oxytocin in your body that reduces anxiety. 

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Cons:  

1.  Finding an apartment: Finding an affordable place to live while in college is a crisis in itself. Add to that the responsibility of finding an apartment that allows pets. If you own a small pet like a fish or a turtle, it might not be a problem. But if you own a furry animal finding a pet-friendly apartment may be a challenge.

2.  Time: Your pets are there for you no matter what. But that means, you’ve got to be there for them too. If you are unable to find the time to give your undivided attention to your pets, then it’s best to buy or adopt one that doesn’t require a lot of your time. The best pets to own if you have a time constraint are fish, turtles, hamsters or birds. 

3.  Expensive: Taking care of a pet is expensive. Not only do you have to spend on their food and toys, but they also require frequent visits to a professional vet. Most apartments that allow pets are likely to ask you for a one-time fee or a monthly rent for the pet. Apart from that, you would also need to spend on other necessities like collars, leash, and crates. 

4.  Commitment: Owning your pet is not a semester-long commitment. This isn’t a hobby that you take up one summer and then give up when you’re tired of it. Your pets depend on you to take care of them for everything until they pass away. If you feel like you aren’t qualified enough for that kind of commitment, don’t adopt one. 

 What are the best pets for college students? 

Dogs and cats are the number one choice when it comes to pets but owning them might prove to be quite challenging for college students. Coming home to a furry pet after a long day of class is great, to say the least, but they require a lot of maintenance, time, and money. Students are better off owning pets that are easy to care for and don’t require a lot of attention. The best pets that college students can opt for are fish, turtles, and hamsters. If you have a love for reptiles, consider owning a lizard or hermit crabs. 

 We hope this answers the question of should pets be allowed in school. Owning a pet can help you breeze through college and melt your stress away but it comes with a huge responsibility too. Take into consideration all of these factors before you adopt a pet in college. If you feel you aren’t ready, wait until you become an owner deserving of your pet’s love.