Puppers and Doggos: GG, 1, has been with the shelter for a few days. She is a pit bull mix that loves to bounce off everything from walls to people.
Entering the sixth week of classes, it’s clear that some students are already feeling the pressure of a heavy workload. Fighting that loneliness after hours of studying alone can be difficult, especially without the help of a cute friend who will drop a saliva-soaked rope toy on the laptop keyboard, or give a no-strings-attached cuddle session.
“When I’m having a bad day,” said Daryl Davis, 20, information systems management sophomore, “I want to come home and pet my dogs. It helps me feel better.” His dogs Beamer and Gizmo live with his parents, but he visits them often.
For those students who do not have dogs, adoption is worth considering. According to Claire Ray, event coordinator from Friends of Strays Animal Shelter.
“When you adopt from a rescue shelter, you save the life of not only the animal you adopt but also save the life of a second animal by making room for it to be cared for,” said Ray.
Walk through any animal shelter in Pinellas County and you might be struck by the number of pit bull mixed breeds being housed and cared for.
According to Dara Eckhart, executive director at Friends of Strays, pit bulls are hard to adopt because “they have such a stigma in the community that I think that a lot of people don’t want to give them a chance, especially the older dogs.”
Pit bulls are notorious for being powerful, strong-willed animals that have a lot of energy. They require an owner who has enough time to spend socializing and teaching them.
Although pit bulls may not seem ideal to students with busy schedules, an older one might be the best option.
Pet the Bern: Bernine, 9, has been with Friends of Strays for two weeks. He is a pit bull mix, and his guilty pleasure is shredding comforters.
With older dogs, an adoptee can see the animal’s behavioral cues and get some idea of the dog’s basic temperament, even though dogs in shelters and rescue foster homes may not always show their true personality right away.
But even older dogs are a significant responsibility. The Pinellas County Animal shelter warned that before considering a dog, you have to first ask yourself if you are right for the dog. Under-exercised and bored pit bulls will find ways to expend their excess mental and physical energy, including chewing, jumping on people, play biting, or digging.
There are many ways to keep your dog from being bored while you’re not at home. Rubber treat-dispensing dog toys by companies like Kong are great for filling with treats and serve as durable chew toys for dogs that like to chew, but keeping a dog stimulated can also help the owner.
Emily Roberts, 19, political science senior, uses her bichon, Chloe, and goldendoodle, Charlie, as a reason to get outside.
“Playing frisbee or going for a run are great ways to stay active,” she said.
There are plenty of places and things to do with your dog outside of class. Friends of Strays Manager Mari Salls said that students should “use [their] dogs as a way to be social and to de-stress.”
With over 200 restaurants and bars in St. Petersburg that welcome dogs at their outdoor tables, there are plenty of options for dog owners. For example, Dog Bar on 23rd Street and Central Avenue features a spacious 2,000 square feet outdoor space with plenty of room for a student to let his or her pup run around while she drinks a beer, or works on homework.
Friends of Strays Development and Communication Assistant Jami Pressman, a USF alumni who graduated in 2012 with a degree in environmental science and psychology said, “You can still make [your dog] a big part of your life, while still being social with people, which is just what you want to do in college.”
Friends of Strays has as many as 100 companion animals, including cats for those who feel they still don’t have time for a dog. Friends of Strays welcomes anyone to come interact with them. Their adoption fees include wellness exams, vaccines, spay/neuter procedure and microchip.
ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS:
Must be at least 18 years old
Must provide a government-issued photo ID
Proof of responsible housing
Adoption fees are as follows:
Dogs under a year $200
1 year to 7 years $150
7 years and older $100
