Owning a Pet in College
Considerations to Make When Having a Pet at Your UF Apartment
As humans, we love having pets because they are loyal, comforting and give us something to provide care for. Though caring for them provides us with purpose, it is also a huge responsibility. If you are a college student considering bringing your family pet to your student apartments in Gainesville, FL, you will want to determine whether you can handle being a student and pet owner.
Advantages of Bringing a Pet to UF
College can be a difficult time for students. There is a lot of pressure to find the career path you will follow the rest of your life while you are taking difficult classes and learning how to live away from home. This can quickly cause students to become stressed and depressed. However, when you have a furry friend waiting to welcome you home at your UF housing everyday, you can gain a bit of perspective.
You will always have a life that you are responsible for and wants to cuddle and play with you. Studies have shown that having a pet helps prevent depression and also increases the likelihood that you will get the recommended amount of exercise. Even when you have a busy college schedule, you will need to let your pet out regularly and get exercise that will simultaneously help you remain active.
Disadvantages of Being a Pet Owner as a Student
At the same time, your time in college is quite limited. You must find a balance between classes, studying, part time jobs, group projects, extracurricular activities, social life and sleep. Pets are extremely time consuming. If you have a dog, they need to be let out of your luxury apartments in Gainesville, FL throughout the day, get regular exercise and need attention. If you are overwhelmed by the schedule of a student, you will not have time to properly care for them. Further, they can be expensive. Pets need food, vet visits and behavior training. Additionally, many UF student apartments will charge you an extra fee for having a pet and may further charge you additional money for any damages or cleaning fees they may be responsible for when you move out. Even the best dogs and cats may stain the carpet, shed on furniture or scratch baseboards.
College Apartments in Gainesville, FL
Before you make any final decisions about bringing your furry friend with you to UF, you will want to carefully consider if you are up to the challenge. It is a great responsibility and you will need to find student apartments near UF that allow you to bring pets with you as well. There are positives and negatives to both choices so it is dependent on your preferences and lifestyle.