ALEX KUETER / ASST. OPINION EDITOR

Walk around USD on a clear sunny day, and you’ll see it’s gone to the dogs. People  and  their pets can be seen all around  campus in the grassy areas, on walks or sitting outside restaurants. These pups help provide a sense of home and community to many students on campus, and as someone who often walks a dog down the Paseo, it’s common for at least a dozen students to ask to pet him or take a picture of him. 

For many students, attending college means leaving their fur babies behind at home, but the pets found on campus can definitely help ease that transition. However, some choose to get their furry friends while in college to provide comfort, a reason to get outside or an opportunity  to meet other pet parents and friends. But is it ethical to own pets while being a full time college  student? Without proper care and attention many pets suffer. Few buy  pets with  the  intention to neglect them; it tends to be an unfortunate product of circumstance. As such, college students should carefully weigh the costs and think about the responsibilities before adopting a pet. 

Having pets is a huge time and monetary commitment. According to a study conducted by Rover Pet Insurance, the cost of owning a cat ranged from $760 to $3,495 per year. This includes things like vet visits, food, toys and other needs. The same study also found the average cost of owning a dog to be between $1,260 to $4,170 per year. This includes the same necessities, but can vary greatly depending on the size of the dog in question. These estimates do not include emergency vet appointments for things like serious injuries or illness, meaning that if your pet has an accident, you may end up paying thousands more in hospital fees. 

Many people may not realize how fast things add up when adopting a pet, as adoption fees at San Diego Humane Society are only around $75 for a cat and $115 for a dog. These low fees may deceive people  into thinking  pets will always be a relatively low expense, leaving them unprepared for surprise costs  at things  like vet visits. 

Thousands of extra  dollars a year is not something the average college student has on-hand, especially not  after the recent $2,920 annual tuition hike at USD from the 2024-25 to the 2025-26 academic year. Getting a pet you ultimately can’t afford is bad for not only one’s finances, but also for the pet itself. In a  the  best case-scenario, you may have to rehome the pet, and at worst, you  may  have to return them. Having  worked at a vet clinic, I have personally seen many cases where people such as students are unable to afford necessary veterinary care for their animals. 

It’s heartbreaking to ever imagine not having your animal, but losing them due to an accident that a student can’t afford to fix could be devastating for young people. This could add huge mental stress in addition to a financial burden that those just getting pets are unprepared for, along with how much time they truly require. 

Pets, especially dogs, require a large time investment every day. Dogs need to be let out on average every 5-8 hours  and need a daily hour of  exercise, according to Purina Pet Food Company. Between classes, studying and other commitments, it may be hard for the average student to find time to let them out as needed. But beyond basic needs, dogs need a lot of attention. They need walks, playtime and other outdoor adventures. The limited free time that people in college have may limit their ability to adequately provide that enrichment for their pets, leading to behavioral issues and frustration  for  both  pets  and  owners. Many students may instead opt to get cats thinking they will be lower maintenance, and while they  are to a degree, they  still  require lots of time. 

A study by Purely Pets Pet Insurance found that cats need 20-30 minutes of undivided attention every day in the form of attention or grooming, which  many students may  be   able to  accomplish. However they also  need an additional 20 minutes, at least thrice a day, of exercise to  maintain a healthy weight  and activity level. This may be where students fall flat because these should  be spread out during the day, but with  a full course  load, they may not be able to accomplish this.  

Pets also never go away, and cannot fend for themselves if left alone. If you want to go away for a weekend or have a late night out, you’ll have to pay someone to watch your animal or make other plans for them. It is very difficult to be spontaneous with a pet depending on you, which many students are unprepared for. 

But there  is a reason  college kids get pets. Beyond  just being a fun addition to life, the presence of dogs and  other  animals may actually help students on a much deeper level. The University of California, Davis found that dogs help balance moods and difficult emotions. 

“Dogs specifically have been proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise, and improve your overall health,” the 2024 study stated. 

These benefits cannot be overstated due to college students historically struggling with depression and loneliness. One study by the Mayo Clinic found that depression rates continue to rise among undergraduates. 

 “The rate of depression among college students is rising” the Mayo study stated. 

“In a 2021–2022 survey of students across 133 college campuses, 44% of students reported symptoms of depression.” 

Many pet-owning students agree with this mindset. USD senior Bella Dejesse owns a Samoyed named Mochi while also being a full time student and thinks having a dog can be good for some people. 

“I love Mochi,” Dejesse said. “She encourages me to get out and walk more. Caring for her helps me build a routine, and how can I be stressed when I have a big howling fluff to come home to everyday?” However, being able to own a dog really varies person to person. “Whether I think it is a good idea to have a pet in college definitely depends on your schedule. Though Mochi is the sweetest floof, it is not always easy. Like myself, many college students spend all day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. out in class, at work, meeting up with friends, etc. Fitting a dog into that lifestyle is challenging. I was  lucky enough to be able to put Mochi in daycare during my long days and have friends pick her up when I didn’t have time. However, without that support system, I don’t think it would have been  possible to have her here.” 

Other students, such as USD senior Isa Nakatani, choose to own cats, and currently has a 2 year old cat named Shawty. “Cats especially are very independent, so they don’t require being home 3 times a day to walk them around, which, as a student, it’s really important because I wouldn’t want to not be able to give my pet a good life” Nakatani said. 

Whether or not to get a pet is an important question for students in college. Many students are experiencing  new types of financial responsibility and freedom, and may feel the desire to finally adopt their own  pet. While this may be a good idea in theory, there are a lot of hidden costs of owning a pet, and much more responsibility needed than expected. They can definitely provide  emotional support to students in need, but it may be more of an impulse decision than a good long term solution. 

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of  The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego or its student body.

Students, faculty and USD staff can be seen walking their dogs on campus. Photo courtesy of Cristiana Vladescu/The USD Vista