Everyone's best friend

College dorms have a lot of rules. It is almost too many...


No toasters or toaster ovens.
No plastic standing lamps.
And worst of all: no pets.


Of course, this rule is only appropriate. Having college students all showing up to school with dogs, cats, gerbils, birds, or any other domestic (or non-domestic) animal presents unbelievably complicated concerns. Feeding, grooming, caring, and restraining, all of which students can sometimes hardly handle to do for themselves, would be insanely overwhelming to do for pets as well.


It is in the college setting that sometimes people may find themselves very lonely. It is a big transition of relocating which involves making new friends, getting used to sharing a room, having a new bed, eating new food, etc. Sometimes, when you don't want the company of a friend or a roommate, the one thing you may miss, even more than siblings or parents, are your pets.

 

Me outside of my house with my dog Nala.

I was always used to having my cat cuddle up with me in the middle of the night, my dog waking me up from naps on the couch by nudging my hand, and having them great my at the door when I come home.


When I walk into my college dorm, I am greeted by the stench of the garbage can, music blaring from speakers, and room occupied by someone else.


By that description, dorm life may sound worse than it truly is. But there are very few things that can replace the company of lovable animals when you really need them. Some colleges have actually gone as far to recognize this and permit pets to accompany students to college.


According to the Orlando Sentinel, "Eckerd College, a private school in St. Petersburg, has had pet-friendly dorms for years. So has Stephens College, a private school in Missouri."


As for St. John's, I'm positive the idea of allowing pets is as far-fetched as a course on Scientology. I don't find this to be a bad decision, because so many people is sometimes disastrous itself; add pets to the mix and it will be a jungle. I just know whenever I go home, I'm excited to be welcomed by my pets. In the meantime, I do my best to make my bed as loving as my pets do for me at home.

My door room bed, complete with alligator, teddy bear, and unicorn
to help cope with longing for my pets.

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