Many students leave pets at home when they move into the dorms. Not many residential colleges allow pets in the dormitories, despite the benefits in transitioning and student life.
Studies show that pet owners are healthier people overall. Touching and caring for a living animal reduces stress levels, lowers the risk of depression and lowers blood pressure.
Playing with a pet elevates serotonin and dopamine levels in the body, making it easier for someone to calm down and relax. I know playing with my dogs is often a good stress reliever and something I desperately miss while away at school.
The side effects would benefit college students, especially freshman, in the transition to college. A pet would be like bringing a piece of home to school.
At Kansas State University, pets are allowed in the dorms as long as the pet is small and relatively quiet. This includes small rodents, reptiles, birds and insects. Some students even have exotic pets such as a chinchilla or a sugar glider. Animals not accustomed to containment such as dogs and cats are not allowed.
K-State’s pet policy was designed with the help of its College of Veterinary Medicine. All students are welcome to bring pets, but their roommate has to approve.
In our residence halls, the only animals allowed are fish. They are better than nothing and students still get the satisfaction of caring for a living thing.
I’m not much of a fish person, but I have a leopard gecko at home that I am dying to bring to school. He is only six inches long and lives in a 20-gallon tank. He is quiet, does not require a lot of maintenance, and it is not possible to be allergic to him. He is the perfect college pet.
I would love to have a dog and so would many other students, but that is not as reasonable of a request. Allergies and the lack of space would create problems and, in some cases, not be healthy for the animal.
Some colleges have successfully created a pet policy that allows dogs and cats in certain pet only rooms for their dorms. I think that creates more problems than it is worth to organize.
However, the small pet policy is an excellent compromise. Reptiles and insects are fairly easy to take care of and do not cause allergies. Students who need something to cuddle could get a hamster or a rat.
It would be difficult to sort out roommate requests and make sure health code is being followed, but I think it is worth it to be able to meet a common human desire for animal companionship.