Apartment living with pets can be a great way to familiarize yourself with the college community.
First, make sure you’re ready for the responsibilities of caring for a pet. Then, check with your apartment complex’s pet policy to ensure that your pet is allowed in the apartment. After you decide that college is a good time for you to invest in a furry friend, keep the following tips in mind:
- Adopt! Visit your local animal shelter to find a good pet in need of a great home. These pets are often already spayed/neutered and are both less expensive and more in need than pets from private pet stores.
- Do your research and opt for a smaller breed to ensure your pet does not outgrow your apartment.
- Consider a middle-aged pet. There is no denying the cuteness of big-pawed puppies and cute, cuddly kittens, but keep in mind that young animals require more time and attention (not to mention more food expenses while they grow). Instead, bypass the chews-up-everything-in sight stage and opt for a more mature companion.
- Invest in a pet-specific vacuum that will quickly allow you to vacuum up the extra hair that inevitably accumulates when you have a new pet. Also, consider covering your couches with an easy-to-wash blanket and brushing your pet regularly.
- If you’ve chosen a canine, locate a nearby dog park, which provides ample space for your pet to run and play in a convenient and controlled environment. This is a great place for you to meet and chat with other pet owners, too!
- Protecting your pet should be a priority. Stay up-to-date on your pet’s check-ups and vaccinations. Most pets likely require regular flea, tick and heart worm medicine and while these pills will cost you some initial cash—this investment pays off in the long run.
- And, most importantly, devote time to your new companion. Love your animal, and he or she will love you in return.
Do you have any tips on how to take care of pets in an apartment community? Let us know about it in the comments section below.
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I’ve got a tip, too! Make a pet-sitting friend in your apartment complex. When you see somebody walking their dog around your college apartment, introduce yourself and ask if they might want to trade pet-sitting. That way, if you need to plan an all-nighter at the library, you can have a backup dog walking buddy and Fluffy won’t be left alone all night crossing his legs and wishing you were there. If you have a roommate, you can totally bribe them to walk your dog, too.
Also make sure that your dog’s breed isn’t renowned for being high energy. It’s very hard as a student to make ample time to exercise such dogs (both physically and mentally), and a bored dog will easily direct their attention to, say, chewing holes in the walls of your student apartment. Instead of getting a border collie or a jack russell, go for a hound mix or a retriever.
I have a beagle puppy who needs to run around during the day. I was able to find a place close to work and school so it’s easy for me to run home on my lunch break, or in between classes to check on him. If you’re going to have a pet (especially a dog of any kind) make sure you’re close enough to them during the day so they’re not stuck inside for more than a few hours at a time 🙂