 Cats, Smells and Puppy Dog Tails: Owning a Pet in Oxford
by Virginia Kelly
The hectic life as a student can leave you feeling lonely, and even if you live in the small space of a dorm or apartment, a pet can keep you company. A pet for the home can be a pleasant and captivating addition to whatever living area you occupy, but what pet is right for you? Before making the decision in purchasing a pet, you must carefully take into account all of your options.
Rodney Pearson, employee at Gone Fishin‘, Oxford’s “One Stop Pet Shop” advises all prospective pet adopters to avoid making impulsive decisions. “Finding the right pet depends on the person and what environment they live in. In the college lifestyle, there is a lot going on, so you should always think before you buy. You should learn all you can before bringing a pet home, and make sure you have all the necessary equipment and supplies on hand.”
Dorm life: Lorinda Krhut, director of housing and student life at Ole Miss, stresses that fish are the only options for pets living in the dorms. “Animals are not allowed to reside on the student floors in the residence halls,” Krhut said. “The only exception to this is if it is a service pet (for the visually impaired), or if one of the professional staff members living in a campus apartment owns a pet. Fish are the only pets allowed in student rooms.”
Fish are one of the least pricey pets to buy and care for. The Beta Fish, known as the Siamese Fighting fish is a popular, low maintenance dorm resident, because it can survive in a tiny fishbowl, and eats only a few grains of food each day. Other fish, such as the goldfish, require a
ten gallon tank and weekly water care. Dorm residents should be cautious about disposing of waste in the dorm floors. “It is important to be considerate of those around you when disposing of waste in the dorms, because dorms are a such a small spaced living community,” Person said.
Apartment life: While it depends upon the policies of each Apartment complexes, many pets are suitable to live at ease in an apartment. Whether you desire the company of a large mammal, rodent, insect, or reptile, it all depends on how much money and maintenance time that you are willing to invest.
Reptiles vary in price range and maintenance care, but those who suffer from pet hair allergies can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their reptiles or amphibians won’t shed hair around the apartment. They also make little noise, aside from noise the noise of an aquarium or water pump.
Geckos are widely popular, tame and easy to care for.
Turtles are low-maintenance pets that require little attention, needing regular exposure to UV light, water to for swimming, and a rock to bask.
Bearded Dragons, the Australian desert dwellers require high temperatures, and owners spend a large money on decent exposure.
Snakes are fascinating pets that can be quite tame, but require unique care and handling requirements. Pre-killed prey is suggested for the safety of the snake, and it is also more convenient to keep supplies of frozen food in your freezer rather than buying live prey.
Iguanas have a questionable disposition because they can be aggressive and difficult to tame. They are the most commonly dumped reptile in the US, possibly because they can grow unexpectedly large and are high maintenance.
Insects and arachnids are fascinating to observe, but they are mainly a ‘look but don‘t touch‘ kind of pet. They are often risky to handle, having the smallest interaction with their owners.
Scorpions sting on occasion, and should not be handled with hands.
Tarantulas can bite on occasion, but have fascinating qualities. Their diet ranging from crickets to small mice and lizards. They also shed their skin periodically in order to grow to a larger size.
Rodents vary in requirements for space and qualities as pets. Rats, the most social of the rodent groups, are clever and social animals, and many owners have compared the companionship of a rat to a dog. Along with hamsters and gerbils, they can live two to four years. Guinea pigs, the
most commonly kept pet rodents, can live a life spanned of five to seven years.
Larger, furrier animals are more likely to bond with their owner, but they have need of the most money and care.
Pearson has noticed that rabbits are increasing in popularity as apartment pets because of their playful disposition and housetraining abilities. They can be litter trained, and can roam for hours throughout an apartment, requiring little time to occupy a cage.
Chinchillas are a unique because of their beautiful, lust fur coat. They are a valuable pet option but they are nocturnal, and likely to make burrowing noises at night. Their unique fur coat requires weekly dust baths to absorb oil and dust from the fur.
Birds are not recommended to live in apartments because they can be very noisy and disruptive in a small living area.
Cats and dogs seem to have the most companionable qualities
of all the pets, but they do entail the most pricey costs.
Pearson stresses that many pet owners forget the possibility
that dogs or cats may have special needs, such as monthly allergy shots or medications. It is also expensive to board them when you go out of town, because they require the most one-on-one interaction and care.
Pets can bring much entertainment and joy to their owner,
but always remember your options before any purchase.
Sources:
Krhut, Lorinda (662)915-7328
Pearson, Rodney (662)513-0222
http://ezinearticles.com
http://www.geocities.com
http://exoticpets.about.com
http://exoticpets.about.com |
