Yes, I am in college and I have had a dog for the past two years, and no I don’t have any regrets. Doggos, puppers, whatever you want to call them, they are wonderful things. My pup is my best friend and is there for me however I need her to be. I got her in a time when I was depressed and I needed a friend, I needed someone to brighten my day every single day. She does that.

There are so many wonderful reasons why someone should get a dog, even in college, but please don’t do it if you’re going to mistreat them. Dogs live a shorter life than humans, and their human is their whole life. Please don’t get a dog if you are gone all day and party all night. They want to be with you as much as possible. Also, do not take your dog to that party. They have such sensitive ears and you are risking them going deaf every time you take them to a loud place. Plus, they don’t need to see you drunk, they need someone to take care of them not the other way around.

Please don’t get a dog if you can’t afford one, they are very expensive. Vet bills, medicine, food, toys, and treats all add up very quickly.

A dog is just as long of a commitment as it would be to raise a child. Most dogs like to be around 15 years. What you plan to do for the next 15 years of your life is a big factor on if you should even consider getting a dog or not. You wouldn’t just adopt a child on a whim so please don’t adopt a dog on a whim either. They need a forever home. They do not want to be bounced around from home to home just like you wouldn’t want to.

Puppies don’t stay puppies forever and you need to accept that when your pupper becomes a doggo, they need the same amount of love and attention. There are too many older dogs that are without homes because people don’t want a dog they want a puppy. You can’t have your cake and eat it too so please don’t adopt a puppy unless you can handle a dog too.

If you have considered all of this plus how big your house is, allergies, if you can play with them several hours of the day, and your housing allows them, and still want to get a dog, congratulations! They are a blessing to have. Please adopt, don’t shop. And as Bob Barker would say “help control the pet population, have your pet spayed or neutered.”