Since coming to college, I have found myself yearning for a pet. Like many other students, I left behind my beloved pets at home to continue my education. If I could, I would have brought them with me. Unfortunately, most college dorms have a strict “no pets” policy. Sure, I have my wonderful fish Kevin living in my dorm, but he is not the ideal pet to snuggle up with before bed, as my cats at home were. Of course, there are the breaks where I can go home and once again be reunited with my pets (who are always so thrilled to see me), but that makes coming back to college all the more difficult. After winter break, I found myself waking up in the middle of the night in my dorm room, wondering why my cat was not resting my feet. The amount I miss them is unfathomable. That is why dogs are so important to me as a college student.

Right now, they are the ones filling that I-miss-my-pets-so-much void, for me. No matter how I may be feeling on a given day, seeing a dog on campus never fails to brighten my day. All my life, I’ve had a huge appreciation for dogs because I was never allowed to own one myself, and it’s only gotten stronger since arriving at college. Living on a city campus, there is no shortage of canines to meet. Big dogs, small dogs, soft or scruffy, old or young, any dog is an opportunity to make a new friend. And the best thing about dogs is their true excitement to meet new people. I’ve met an adorable Husky-Pomeranian mix who spared no time in jumping on me and licking my face, a Shiba-Inu who was more than happy to be fawned over, a massive Saint Bernard with the spirit of a puppy and so many more.

These dogs are a huge stress reliever for many students. During finals week in the fall term at Drexel, Campus Activities Board gave students the opportunity to spend some quality time with a couple of canine friends during their Puppy Pawlooza event. Of course, I was present at the event, but so were a lot of other students; the line stretched around the building where the event was held. It had a positive impact on students, who all agree that the dogs helped them feel more relaxed.

Luckily for me, I have been privileged with walking a dog for the last few months for a busy friend. Diesel is a one-year-old Native American Indian Shepard with a beautiful multi-colored coat and eyes to match. Most students who see him are blown away by his beauty and often run over to pet him, shouting things like “What a beautiful dog!” or even “This dog is sick!” and flooding us with a million questions. Even though Diesel is big, he’s full of energy and acts like a puppy; He never fails to entertain me. His favorite activities include chasing squirrels he has no chance of ever catching and attempting to chow down on tree branches. Whenever he sees us, he is just genuinely happy and cannot wait to walk around campus and be out in the world.

I think that’s a very important lesson dogs can teach not only college students but everyone. We can learn to make the most out of life from them. The dogs I meet on campus are genuinely happy and appreciate the lives they have, and that’s a beautiful thing. So thank you, Dogs of campus, not only for never failing to put a smile on my and my fellow college student’s face but also for teaching us how to make the most of every day. Please be expecting a multitude of pets next time I see one of you on campus.