WCU does not currently allow students to have pets in dorm unless they are a service animal or emotional support animal. That is why many students choose to live off campus so they can have pets.
When walking around Western Carolina’s campus on a sunny day, you will see many students enjoying the weather. And many times, by their sides are their dogs also enjoying the weather. Owning a pet in college has become popular among students. It is also costly. Students often pay an upwards of $500 to have their pet live with them off campus.
For sophomore Kaley Fulford, she missed the relationship built with a pet. So, in the summer of 2020, she brought home her Feist/Labrador/Boxer mix, Roo. They live at the Riverwalk Apartments, one of the many pet-friendly off campus housing options.
“I have owned dogs my entire life and when I went to college as a freshman, I missed that companionship. I really just wanted my own dog,” Fulford said.
Despite the fun that comes along with having a pet in college, Fulford was transparent about the struggles that come along with it. According to Fulford, sometimes when she works late hours, her roommate helps with Roo by feeding and caring for her.
“My only regret is not being able to spend as much time with her as I would like to because of working so many hours or working harder to train her because she’s so smart,” Fulford said.
Cats are also a popular pet for students in college. Many of them take less attention than a dog making them a great pet for busy students who still want a furry friend.
Sophomore Alyssa Spelman got her cat Toby from a humane society in Cashiers, NC in the fall. She believes that Toby has helped her a lot during quarantine and during stressful times at school. This companionship is the reason many students choose to add a pet in their lives.
“The best part [of having Toby] is always having another life in my room and any time I’m upset; he somehow knows to just cuddle with me. He also helps me remember to eat and get up on time, because he has to eat too,” Spelman said.
For many students, having a pet helps a lot with stress and anxiety. A study published by Washington State University, showed that just 10 minutes of interacting with a dog or cat decreased college student’s stress levels.
Sophomore Vanessa Barnette and her roommate have an apartment full of pets. Barnette herself has her dog Buddy while her roommates have two cats and geckos as well.
Barnette gives advice to students thinking about getting a pet in college. She explains that it’s not always as fun and easy as it seems. Her expenses are around $85 per month for food and medications and if her pet needs to go to the vet, it’s a minimum $100 bill.
Prices to have pets for most off-campus housing options range from a $250 to $500 deposit and an additional monthly “pet rent” is required at some complexes.
“A big challenge is finding an apartment that is pet friendly without being insanely expensive. It can also be difficult to coordinate trips with friends,” Barnette said.
However, she wouldn’t change her situation for anything. She advises anyone thinking about getting a pet in college to do their research.
“I would encourage everyone to be 100% certain that you can care for an animal before even thinking about adopting. But I definitely don’t have any regrets about our animals at all,” Barnette said.
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