Animals that You Can Take with You to Your Dorm Room

Craving furry (or fishy!) company in your dorm room? Explore the different animals allowed in dorm rooms and find your perfect low-maintenance companion!

Enrolling in a university, moving to another city, settling in a dormitory can cause stress for a student. And pets are the best to relieve stress: they require your attention and provide positive emotions – you will not have time for worries. But can animals be kept in the dorm? Let’s figure it out together.

Can I have animals in the dorm room?

Keeping animals in dormitories has not been fully regulated. There is no law that officially allows or forbids people living in a dorm to have pets. In such cases, lawyers recommend to being by the internal rules that are in each dorm. If a ban on pets is clearly indicated in them, you will have to put up with it.

But today, when our society is more humane towards our four-legged friends, the administration of campuses is no longer so categorical. Some universities have a rule which allows a student to obtain permission to have pets in a dorm.

Also, before taking an animal with you to the dorm room, you must remember that caring for them will take a lot of your time. If you suddenly notice that there is less time left for study, you can ask for help at a special cheap essay writing service. This is a great option for those who want to keep up with all the tasks and at the same time not spend a lot of money.

What kind of animals can you keep in your dorm room?

You can have anyone at home, but in a dorm, when selecting a pet, you should consider the harmlessness of the animal and take into account its size. In a small room, even a medium-sized dog will be uncomfortable, and a snake is a source of danger for everyone who lives in a dorm.

Keep in mind that dogs and cats are not the best options for you. They need space and periodic peace – all this contradicts life in a dorm. Moreover, you need to walk dogs several times a day. It is not always possible with the hectic pace of student life.

In addition, you should not bring a cat or dog that used to live in your home. For animals, moving and a new place of residence is strong stress that may lead to serious illness. Better to take something more useful from home.

When choosing which animal to have in the dormitory, students most often think about rodents or non-venomous reptiles. Mice, rats, hamsters, and guinea pigs will be great friends; besides, they do not need a lot of space. Your main duty as an owner of these animals will be to clean the cage in time. Your neighbors won’t like the unpleasant odor that appears in the room.

Turtles and lizards are also good options. It is better to select a water turtle because overland ones are accustomed to moving around the room and can easily get under the inattentive neighbor’s feet.

If you choose a lizard, study the features of this animal: lots of them are sensitive to temperatures. It will not tolerate some conditions of the dorm and excessive cold. Parrots, canaries, and other birds are not for everyone. Firstly, your neighbors may not be fans of birds singing or conversations, and secondly, birds should fly at least occasionally, which is inconvenient in a small room, and dangerous in corridors.

Exotic animals are at risk. Of course, if your neighbors don’t mind a tarantula, an armadillo, or a genet, you can take a chance. But such animals need special care and a lot of attention, which is not always possible to pay due to studies, parties, part-time work, etc. Besides, keeping them is quite expensive, and it is not easy to find veterinarians in case of illness.

Pets in a dorm room: how to arrange everything?

The main condition for a pet permit is the consent of the neighbors. This is where good relationships come in handy, which you need to have right after you get acquainted with them. Neighbors need to write a declaration of consent and indicate that they are not opposed to an animal living in the dorm room and obtain medical certificates that there is no allergy.

The second mandatory item is that the pet has a veterinary passport and certificates of necessary vaccinations. Administrations prohibit having animals that pose a threat to the health of students and staff.

Thus, you will go to the dorm management with the following documents:

petition for keeping a pet
declaration of consent from neighbors
certificates of the absence of allergies for all residents of the room.

If everything is done correctly, the administration approves your request, and you can have a pet. After purchase, visit your veterinarian and receive from him or her: