Heavy Petting in the Dorms
December 31, 2009 | Alicia Ostarello
Not all fuzzy-friends are a no-go in the dorms
Your dorm room is your home away from home, complete with a comfy-ish bed, pictures of your BFF’s, and a snuggly, cuddly…wait a second. There is no fuzzy-wuzzy companion in the residence halls. Dogs and cats are strictly forbidden based upon dorm-contracts you signed so willy-nilly back in September. But even though roommates and friends are great company, nothing beats a pal who is entirely dependent upon you, and to whom you can hang out with, tell secrets to, and whose very presence can relieve stress.
While puppies and kitties are the typical pet for a home, there are an abundance of animals that also make delightful domesticated friends and whom are allowed in the dorms:
Spice up your life with a Betta!
1. Betta Fish
These fire-cracker colored friends make darling dorm pets for a number of reasons: they prefer to live solo (lest they attack another fish), they prefer to live in a space barely larger than a goblet, and they require minimal maintenance – just sprinkle in some food, clean their water occasionally, and chat them up.
Jumpy frogs bring joy.
2. Frog-O-Sphere
Sold only at Brookstone, these sustainable ecosystems come with two small African frogs, a snail, oxygen releasing rocks, and a bamboo plant. The Frog-O-Sphere is a self-contained environment – the snail acts as a janitor and cleans up after the frogs, the bamboo and gravel produce oxygen, and the frogs frolic in the ample space.
Let a little love into your dorm
3. Small Birds
If your residence halls are a bit relaxed on the pet rules, and you’re ready for responsibility, small birds such as finches, parakeets, and love birds could be for you. These amicable avian acquaintances do require attention, time, an ample-sized cage, and daily cleaning; plus, if you want hand train them, but you’ll need a lot of patience. The pay-off is a sweet friend who sings, chatters, and is generally adorable.
Cuter than cornuts, hamsters make great pets
4. Hamsters & Gerbils
Oh yes, welcome back childhood. Like birds, hamsters require significant time in order to keep their cage clean and in order to make them people friendly, but they are warm and fluffy pals, and rank high on the cuteness scale. And their plastic cages come with all sorts of fun tubes for them to play in.
Be sure you are ready to have any sort of pet before you take on the obligations of a tiny dependent. Being prepared to have a buddy who is entirely reliant upon you is a huge responsibility, so make sure you have the appropriate amount of time and dedication to take on a pet. Oh, and be sure to ask your roommate if they’re okay with sharing the room with a third party!
