X442
42 / BACK TO SCHOOL / MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
1234567890
LAWRENCE
Shelters fill up with students' unwanted pets
BY MEGAN RUPP
mrupp@kansan.com
At some point in your life you've probably approached your parents with very convincing arguments about why you're now responsible enough to own a pet. Some parents gave in, others didn't, arguing that you just weren't ready. For those who never got to have their cuddly friend, college years offer the opportunity for to finally own something other than the betta fish your parents gave you as a substitute.
Andy Seemiller, a senior from St. Louis, grew up with dogs in his household his entire life. When he came to college, he said, he missed the companionship and knew he wanted
to get a dog as soon as possible. He wasn't allowed to have a dog at his apartment in The Reserve, so he moved to a place where he could.
"Once I realized if I moved I could have one, I started thinking about what I wanted." Seemiller said. "Id always wanted a husky and one day I happened to be at the animal shelter with my ex-girlfriend, saw a husky, and I bought him on the spot."
Seemiller said the financial burden and the difficulty of having a dog may present when moving was well worth it.
"It might be a little more expensive and you might have to look a little harder, but it's worth it, he's a great dog and I'll never give him up," Seemiller said.
Though Seemiller has made pet ownership work for him, other students have had significant difficulties. Many professionals in animal care now urge students to consider the short-term and long-term responsibility of pet ownership before taking the leap.
Midge Grinstead, director of the Lawrence Humane Society, said that at the end of every semester students dropped off animals in large numbers, which was both hard on the facility and shows irresponsibility on the part of many students.
"We had the biggest student dump this May," Grinstead said. "In one week we took in 127 animals from students leaving town, not to mention the ones left."
In addition to the animals dropped off at the Humane Society, Grinstead said many animals were abandoned in dumpsters. She said the Humane Society spent $600 this year to revive an abandoned bearded dragon whose feet had been burnt and had nearly starved to death before being found at the bottom of a dumpster.
"Students think of their pets as disposable and that's just not the case," Grinstead said.
Grinstead said another issue often seen with students' pets is that they were very rarely vaccinated. Matthew
Coles, a veterinarian at the Animal Hospital of Lawrence, said vaccinations are something often overlooked by students.
"We'll see a number of students who have spent $800 on a purebred dog and then they come in to find out they need vaccines, heart worm preventative and any number of other things if they get sick," Coles said. "Pet food, toys and things like that, students should definitely budget for, but also remember that pets have health requirements."
Coles and Grinstead both agree that one of the most important things to consider when deciding to own a pet is if you really have the time.
"If you want to have a pet that's not destructive
Grinstead said that animals' poor behavior was often a result of anxiety that builds when they're left alone for too long. The first question she asks before allowing people to adopt is whether they work, go to school and are out of the house for extended periods for any other reason.
and well-managed around people, then you really have to invest that time when they're younger," Coles said. "With dogs you need time to take them out regularly. But even with a cat, the number one reason they urinate out of the box is they get bored and inactive."
"Most students work, go to school and go out occasionally." Grinstead said. "So what free time they have, they're not spending at home. If you're not going to be home, it's not fair to
"Students think of their pets as disposable and that's just not the case."
MIDGE GRINSTEAD
Lawrence Humane
Society director
the animal for you to become a pet owner in the first place."
Another thing to consider is what you plan to do when you graduate. Coles said he has too often seen students deal with the hurdles of moving with a pet.
"You never know what's going to come up as far as moving
or what you're going to do in the future, so you have to keep the mind set that, regardless, you're going to take this pet wherever you go," Coles said. "That means you may not be able to take certain jobs that you may have wanted because your pet's more important."
OVER $7,500 IN PRIZES!
One entry per ballot box at participating sponsors of the sweepstakes.
Ballots must be turned in by 4 pm CST on 8/20/10.
Staff of The University Daily Kansan are not eligible to win prizes in the Hawk Ticket Sweepstakes
Winners will be drawn on the evening of 8/20/10 at Abe & Jakes. You do not have to be present to win. If you are not at the party you will be notified by e-mail. Winners must be able to present photo ID when claiming their prize.
1
1