Melissa Robertson spent the summer with her family and their two puppies, and when she came back to OU, she found herself missing her pets.

"I raised my puppy on my own," said Robertson, public relations junior. "I was really lonely up here without him."

Now that she isn't living in a dorm or sorority house, Robertson was free to adopt an animal, which she did Wednesday. Her new Labrador retriever, Bonnie Bell, came from Second Chance Animal Sanctuary in Norman.

Like Robertson, many students choose to adopt pets when they move into their own apartments or homes, but they don't always plan ahead for pet care. Animal experts said students should take a few things into consideration when deciding to take in Fluffy or Fido.

To adopt or not to adopt

Lori Ellison, humane education director at Second Chance, said students need to think before they adopt.

"You graduate college in four years," she said. "What then?"

Dr. Gene Eskew, veterinarian at Norman Animal Shelter, said vacations, breaks and end-of-school changes must be addressed when students adopt.

"Have plans for the future," Eskew said. "When you leave for summer or graduate, what happens then?"

He said students can be successful pet owners if they choose the right type of animal for their situations. For instance, cats acclimate to a small environment more easily than most dogs, Eskew said.

"If you're in a one-bedroom apartment, a St. Bernard would not be the pet of choice," he said.

Zach Fargo, cultural anthropology senior, said he's watched friends face problems that stem from a lack of planning for pet care.

"Students are less likely to take care of an animal," he said. "People go out all day and all night and don't come home. You can't just leave your pet like that....It's a big responsibility, almost like having your own kid."

One of Fargo's friends fed a stray cat repeatedly, not realizing it would keep coming back. The cat later had kittens, and Fargo and his friend worked hard to find homes for each one. They never could find a home for the mother cat, though. Fargo kept the cat, and it has been a part of his family for about a year now.

Fargo said his experiences gave him some wisdom about the right and wrong ways to adopt.

"If you get a pet, make sure you have at least $200 saved from the start," he said. "Don't get a pet if you can't take care of it and give it the love it needs."

Adoption alternatives

Ellison said Second Chance sees many students wanting to adopt, but after the students complete the shelter's application process, some choose an alternative option.

Ellison said the application process is intended to inform workers at the shelter about what kind of living situation the dog or cat might experience.

Sometimes students do not realize they may have to pay a pet deposit to their landlord. Ellison said once students really consider what they are getting themselves into, some think twice.

The shelter offers alternatives for people who want to spend time with animals without owning a pet. One such program is "Doggy Day Out," which allows people to take dogs from the shelter for the day.

Ellison said whole groups of students take advantage of the program. They take the dogs to the duck pond near OU and play with them.

Options exist for cat lovers as well.

"Anytime we're open, anyone can come pet or groom cats," Ellison said.

She said there are also off-site adoption events, pet-assisted therapy and the Humane Education Program, an opportunity to educate children on topics from safety to the connection between domestic violence and animal abuse.

Plus, "we could always use volunteers," she said.

Ellison said the staff at Second Chance offers these alternatives to help students avoid the challenges they may face if they adopt pets.

"It's their first time on their own," Ellison said. "They've had pets of their own, but their parents have paid for their care."

If students do choose to adopt, Ellison said the staff at Second Chance can ensure that the animal's health has been checked and it has been spayed or neutered. The staff can also give potential owners an idea of the animal's temperament.

Eskew said he believes owning a pet is one of the transitions into adulthood. One of Eskew's sons even took one of the family pets with him when he attended OU.

"We call them pets, but quite frankly, they've become an important member of your family life," Eskew said. "That goes back to caveman days."
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