When Isabelle Nieves, a freshman music major at the University of Mississippi, began the fall semester, she was eager to meet new people and gain independence. Leaving her beloved dog, Lucy, at home with her parents in Memphis, Tenn. was a significant trade-off, however. 

“Having to leave my dog was very difficult because we were pretty much attached at the hip when I was home,” Nieves said. “Lucy was always with me when I would do pretty much everything. She was my little study buddy. I also miss her sleeping with me at night. She has been doing that since she was a puppy, so I had trouble sleeping the first few weeks without her.”

Lucy still lives at home when Nieves is in Oxford, and Nieves said that having Lucy with her in college would help relieve stress and anxiety.

“I think about her all the time,” Nieves said. “Sometimes, when I’m really stressed, I think about how I need a hug from Lucy.”

Nieves is one of many college students who struggle with separation from their pets.

A survey of first-year college students by Washington State University researchers found that 75% of the respondents experienced pet separation anxiety on some level. One in four reported experiencing moderate to severe symptoms.

Likewise, a survey of first- and second-year students at the University of Wisconsin-Stout found that 92% of the respondents with pets at home and 50% without pets said their stress and homesickness would lessen with pet interaction.

Jordan Clark, a junior English major, said living with her cats off-campus, Cheeto and Gravy, helps her manage stress.

“When I become stressed out from school, my cats allow me to take a break from that stress and just sit down and relax,” Clark said. “They help boost my mental health in a positive way when I feel down or upset. When I’ve had a bad day, coming home to my cats puts a smile on my face.”

Clark cares for her pets by carefully planning her schedule around their needs. 

“When it comes to balancing school life and my pets, I always put them first,” Clark said. “I always make sure I plan my meetings, class times and study sessions around their feeding schedule so I make sure I’m home to feed them. I don’t get much downtime during the day because of this, but my pets come first.”

Owning a pet in college presents some challenges.

“One of the downsides I’ve had to deal with is the vet costs in a college town,” Clark said. “Vet costs here compared to my hometown are much higher, and that can take a toll on me financially.”

Clark has also faced restrictions with housing, such as her apartment complex’s two-pet limit — a restriction that is common for apartment complexes in Oxford. Clark owns three cats, but one lives in her hometown.

“I’ve had my first cat for almost three years now,” Clark said. “The second one I’ve had for two years, and the third one I’ve had for a couple of months. However, she doesn’t live with me yet as my apartment complex doesn’t allow more than two pets.”

UM prohibits pets in residence halls on campus; however, service animals and emotional support animals are allowed under certain guidelines. 

According to the Student Disability Services website, service animals are only dogs or miniature horses trained to perform tasks for those with disabilities. Emotional support animals can be any animal that does not pose a danger to other residents, but they are restricted to the owner’s campus housing. 

To keep an emotional support animal on campus, students must present documents to Student Disability Services showing that the animal is needed. This is not required for service animals.

Both service animals and emotional support animals can be prohibited from certain environments if the handler is not in full control of the animal, the animal is disruptive, out of control, not house trained, poses a health and safety risk or if the presence of the animal would change the program or environment on a fundamental level.

Beyond on-campus housing, both service dogs and emotional support dogs are also allowed in all of the other student housing options in Oxford.

Junior psychology major Maylen Janovich, who has two registered emotional support cats in an off-campus apartment, Sanji and Nami, said they provide companionship. 

“I have two pets. I got my first cat as a freshman in college and my second between my sophomore and junior years,” Janovich said. “Both of my pets are actually registered emotional support animals, so I find it very beneficial to have them with me, especially over breaks when not a lot of my friends are in Oxford.” 

Despite being a full-time student and holding a job, Janovich said caring for her pets is easier than what she imagined. 

“One would think that it’s hard for me to balance my work and school while also taking care of two pets, but it’s actually a lot easier than people think,” Janovich said. “I feed my pets in the morning before class and in the evening after I get home from work. If I have to work late, my roommate or my boyfriend help out and feed them.”

Cody Waters, a junior accountancy major and cat owner of four and a half years, also enjoys the companionship that comes with pet ownership in college.  

“Having him up here has been an amazing experience,” Waters said. “It’s nice having a companion to come home and see. I live with three other dudes, but they knew the cat before I brought him up to college. They enjoy his company as much as I do.”

Waters, who lives in an off-campus apartment, has experienced very few issues in owning his cat.

“Trying to balance his health and my other responsibilities isn’t easy, but I try my best to give him attention while I’m not working on something,” Waters said. “Other than cleaning the litter box and dealing with him wanting to claw things, there haven’t been many problems.”

Similarly, junior nursing major Grace Benge said her dog, Sadie, has been a positive influence. 

“I have plenty of time for my schoolwork. She actually keeps me company while I do it, so it actually makes it easier. I definitely think it’s beneficial because it gives me a reason to get outside all the time and go for walks,” Benge said.

For students who are unable to own pets but still enjoy the companionship and company that pets provide, volunteer opportunities offer an alternative. 

Sital Sigh, a volunteer with Second Chance Animal Alliance, encourages college students to get involved through fostering, adoption events or the group’s Doggy Day Out program. Second Chance Animal Alliance is a pet organization in Oxford that specializes in rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals.

“I would argue that temporary pet ownership, like being a foster or taking a dog on a day out, is a good fit for a lot of college students,” Sigh said. 

Sigh believes most college students make responsible pet owners, despite concerns about their commitment to long-term pet ownership. 

“I feel like there could be a stigma around ‘Oh, well, college students are going to leave in four years and not have the dog anymore,’ but we’ve seen a lot of responsible pet owners come from college students who have their dog for a long time,” Sigh said.