Knowing when you are ready to love your dog

Golda, an obese golden retriever weighing in at more than 100 pounds, was my family pet… Golda, an obese golden retriever weighing in at more than 100 pounds, was my family pet growing up. She captured our hearts and became a member of our family immediately. I’m sure other dog owners would disagree, but she really was the best dog around. Ever since I met Golda, I knew that when I grew up, I wanted to own at least one dog.

Before Golda arrived, my parents were constantly reading dog books and talking to other pet owners to find the best way to raise and train her. They knew the huge responsibility that owning a dog entailed and were determined to give Golda the happiest life possible.

Nobody should buy a dog – or any pet – until they are ready to take on the complete commitment, which is why it infuriates me when college students buy dogs for their houses.

During the summer, I visited a friend who was staying in her college house. She told me she bought a dog from the pound, so I couldn’t wait to play with it. When I arrived, I was incredulous to find that the dog was confined to one little room.

When I asked if the dog was always kept in the room, she said for the most part that it was. Her roommate also had a dog, so when the two dogs were actually allowed to roam free in the house, they got a little rambunctious and would jump on the furniture and scratch the wood floors.

But that makes sense. Wouldn’t you get a little restless if you were locked up in a small room, staring at the same four walls for three-quarters of your day? Luckily, no humans have to endure that.

Oh, wait. Yes they do – they’re called prisoners.

Needless to say, before the summer’s end, my friend took her dog back to the pound, which was probably the best thing for both her and the pooch.

As college students, we simply don’t have the time to give a dog the care and attention that it deserves. We barely have time to do our laundry.

It may seem like a fun idea to have an adorable little puppy running around your house, but the little fur ball probably won’t look so cute when you’re stuck cleaning up his crap. Potty training a puppy is time consuming and requires discipline. Either you put in the time and hard work, or you accept the fact that you’ll be living in a house with newspaper carpeting and a permeating urine scent.

Even if you buy your animal when he’s older and already potty trained, he will still require a lot of your precious time and attention. Unless you frequently want to come home to unpleasant surprises, you and your roommates will have to make arrangements to ensure that he’ll be let outside enough throughout the day to do his business.

Dogs need exercise and space to run around. Based on the student houses I’ve seen in Oakland, that isn’t going to happen in your backyard. If you aren’t willing to strap on the leash and take him for frequent walks in Schenely Park, he’s not going to get the exercise he wants and needs.

Dogs deserve a decent environment to live in, or at least one that isn’t too deplorable. I can’t tell you how many pictures I’ve seen on the College Humor website of dogs sucking down beer bongs or slurping up vodka from their water dishes.

A true dog lover only wants the best for their dog and wouldn’t buy a dog if they couldn’t provide it with the best care. If a college student truly has a love for dogs, she should wait until she is older and able to provide the suitable and nurturing environment that the dog deserves. And if that student isn’t a true dog lover, she really shouldn’t feel any need to get a dog in the first place.

I’m generalizing, though. I’m sure there are college students who take wonderful care of their dogs, but sadly, they are the minority. It’s selfish when students buy dogs and don’t give them the necessary love, but rather care for and play with them only at their convenience.

Owning a dog is one of the many things to look forward to as an adult. If you simply can’t wait and must have a pet now, buy a fish. The only things they ask of you are to feed them and not fill their fish tanks with Natty Ice.

E-mail Anjali Nair at amn17@pitt.edu.