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Monday, June 17,2013
The University Daily Kansan
PUPPY LOVE
Students weigh benefits, cons of dog ownership
SARAH NOONAN
editor@kansan.com
The unconditional love for and from a dog can't be matched. From the puppy eyes to the wagging tail, college students fall hard for man's best friend, but some forget to weigh the costs.
Justin Wesley, a senior from Fort Worth, Texas and a forward on the Kansas basketball team, had every
intention of finding companionship. After tweeting to his 10,000 followers looking to adopt a puppy, Wesley found the response he was aiming for — an eight-week-old German Shepherd-Rottweiler mix. What he didn't anticipate was the rude awakening of taking care of something other than himself.
Jayhawk Tower's 'no pets' policy and the lack of time I had to spend with him from traveling, games, practices and school."
"It was immediate love between him and I," Wesley said. "But I ran into problems pretty quickly with the
Dori Villalon, executive director of the Lawrence Humane Society said some students fail to examine the costs of owning a dog before adopting, which is the first and most important step.
"Students are offered so much during their college years," Villon
said. "From moving in with friends, studying abroad or that spontaneous weekend trip, it's a lot to handle. These are important considerations when deciding to adopt because many landlords don't accept pets."
After a month of searching, Elyse Wilson, a senior from Olathe, just recently signed a lease with the petfriendly Tuckaway apartments, 2600 W. Sixth St. Her 9-month-old French bulldog is the love of her life, and giving him up for a place to live was not an option.
a veterinarian visit and the monthly cost of about $50 for dog food and toys is a surprise to many students, Villalon said. And depending on the dog, the replacement fees for chewed furniture, broken glassware and missing socks can add up as well.
"At first, every place I looked did not allow pets, especially the apartments near campus." Wilson said. "I didn't realize how difficult it would be to find an apartment I liked and a landlord who wouldn't kick me out for having a dog."
"Another thing to consider is traveling home during breaks," Villalon said. "If you need to fly, taking your dog on a plane will require a Health Certificate and will cost anywhere from $150 to $500 one way."
Wesley said that the compani-
ship of owning a dog has made the
cost and inconveniences worthwhile.
"No matter what time it is or type of mood I'm in, my dog is always there for me at the end of the day," Wesley said. "They love you more than themselves, and that is more than I could ask for."
Other than finding a place to live, the initial costs of adopting a dog, such as the $150 to $500 adoption fee, the $200 — or higher — cost of
— Edited by Megan Hinman
ERIN BREMER/KANSAN
Justin Wesley, senior from Fort Worth, Texas and forward on the men's basketball team, plays with his dog Bcots, a German Shepherd-Rottweiler mix, on Tuesday.