Many school college students transfer away from home for the primary time and expertise the school blues. The answer to this may be present in adopting a furry good friend. Can animal adoption fill the void of companionship that some individuals endure from?
Oxford Animal Resource Center Director Kelli Briscoe thinks so.
“Adoption is important because you are not only saving one life, you are actually saving more than one,” Briscoe stated. “When you adopt from a shelter, you are saving the one you adopted and helping to make space for another animal in need.”
According to Briscoe, adoption has the additional advantage of lessening animal overpopulation.
“Another reason adoption is so important is because there are not enough homes for all of the animals that are born every year. Adopting from a shelter or rescue helps to weaken the overpopulation cycle,” Briscoe stated.
Although Briscoe believes adoption is necessary, she additionally believes that proudly owning a pet — particularly a canine — presents its personal set of difficulties..
“Each dog comes with its own challenges,” Briscoe stated.
Coty McGee is a neighborhood assistant on the Oxford Domain, a well-liked house advanced amongst school college students, and he thinks that pet possession may be too nice of a accountability for an unprepared person.
“Some people jump the gun, and they don’t realize how much work (pets) are. Cause having a dog or having a pet in general is like having a child,” McGee stated.
Sophomore pharmaceutical sciences main Haley Combs lives on the Oxford Domain along with her three roommates and their canine, Swae – of which they simply adopted from ARC round a month in the past.
“Our adoption process was really smooth,” Combs stated. “We went to the shelter (and) we kept going back to the same dog. (ARC staff) suggested we foster her, and after 24 hours, we said, ‘you’re not going anywhere.’”
Combs believes that Swae does rather a lot to convey the ladies collectively.
“She’s been a connection for my roommates and I,” Combs stated. “(She) brings us closer together.”
The Pickwick, Tenn. resident revealed that although adopting Swae has been optimistic, she has compelled the ladies to be extra accountable by way of walking the canine, protecting the house clear and selecting up her toys.
Despite the challenges of getting a pet, nevertheless, Briscoe shares that the ARC tries their finest to fight such challenges.
“When someone adopts from the Oxford Animal Resource Center, the adopter receives four free private training sessions with our contracted dog trainer that a breeder may not typically offer,” Briscoe stated.
With coaching as an choice, Briscoe believes that adoption is totally an choice, and, generally, a fantastic stress reliever.
“There are several health benefits to adopting an animal. Studies have shown that adopting a pet is mentally stimulating. It can lower depression, reduce PTSD and anxiety, along with lowering blood pressure and improving cardiovascular health,” Briscoe stated.
If college students are hesitant to tackle the tasks of proudly owning a pet, Briscoe suggests fostering an animal.
“We started a program called ‘Foster for a Day’ that students utilize, and it is not only mentally stimulating for the animal, but also the person. It gives the animal a chance to get outside of a stressful environment and be mentally enriched,” Briscoe stated.
The advantages of adopting a pet can enhance the standard of life for the pet and the pet proprietor. However, there are issues to contemplate if one is considering adopting a pet.
It is necessary to acknowledge the long run monetary accountability of pet possession and ensuring one’s schedule and residing setting are conducive to having a pet. Even if adoption shouldn’t be essentially the suitable determination for each pupil, volunteering is at all times an choice. To study extra about ARC and doubtlessly adopting, volunteering or fostering a pet, try their website.
Clay Hale contributed reporting.
