Students may find the idea of having a pet – whether it be a dog, cat, fish or other animal – appealing. Pets have long been known to be companions to people young and old, and many students have grown up with pets in their households. However, professionals urge students to consider all of the commitments and consequences of having a pet during college years.

“Even if students think they would be the perfect guardian for a cat or dog, they need to adequately answer the following questions: Why do they want a pet? Do they have time for a pet? Can they afford a pet? Can they have a pet where they live? Are their living arrangements suitable for the animal they have in mind? And finally, are they prepared to keep and care for the pet for his or her entire lifetime,” according to the Humane Society of the United States Web site.

To begin answering these questions, a student must first know where they will be living during the school year as well as school breaks. Most universities do not allow pets to live on campus, the UA being one of them. The UA’s housing policy states that pets are not allowed in residence halls, even for a short time during move-in, according to housing.uark.edu.

Many residences off campus are pet-specific as well. Private leasers observe the right to refuse pets in their rental properties and many require a substantial, and in some cases, non-refundable pet deposit.

Townhouses off Leverett Street, where most of buildings are owned by different leasers, require deposits ranging from $200 to $1,000. Large complex owners such as Lindsay Management Co., Inc. allow pets of certain breeds and weights at the majority of their locations and require pet deposits, according to property managers. Sweetser Properties does not allow pets at many of its locations.

When deciding on a place to reside, a student should speak specifically with possible landlords on the rules and regulations specific to pet owners. They should also consider the size of the residency compared with the needs of the pet.

The hardest thing about owning a pet, said Bryant Stanley, a UA junior, was taking care of the dog while trying to balance school and work. Students tend to have non-flexible schedules, which can pose problems when owning time-consuming pets such as dogs. A student’s schedule also changes with each semester, as well as in the summer, and should be a factor in deciding on whether or not to become a pet owner.

Pets also pose a financial responsibility that many students might not be aware of when making whim decisions.

Adopting a pet saves potential pet owners the expenses of basic vaccinations, spaying or neutering, city tags, de-worming, and treatments for fleas, according to the Fayetteville Animal Shelter. Outside adoption facilities, these expenses can easily cost anywhere from $135 to $205 and do not include the fee for simply acquiring ownership of the animal.

Students should also keep in mind the fees for veterinary visits and medications that are needed if a pet becomes ill.

The newest trend in pets is moving towards the ownership of small dogs weighing less than 20 pounds, according to American Kennel Club registration statistics.

“Since 2000, four of the top 10 most popular breeds have been small dogs, indicating that while Americans may be gravitating towards bigger cars and appetites in the 21st century, they still appreciate the affection of a petite pooch,” according to akc.org.

Although small dogs may seem to a potential owner to be a “cop-out” of tedious needs associated with large animals, “petite-pooches” were not developed to be less-care-intensive.

“Just because they are small doesn’t mean they need less exercise or mental stimulation than other breeds,” said Lisa Peterson, AKC’s Director of Club Communications on akc.org. “They crave being near their owners and don’t do well if left alone for long periods of time,” Peterson said.

Stanley, who had to give his yellow lab mix to his parents, said he didn’t expect that he wouldn’t have enough time to spend with his dog.

“I wasn’t able to give it the attention that it needed,” Stanley said.

Pets, especially dogs, have life-spans in the range of 12 or more years depending on the breed.

“A pet someone gets in college is going to be with him or her for 15 years or more in many cases, and that needs to be considered,” said Stephanie Shain, The HSUS’s director of Companion Animal Outreach on hsus.org.

Students may often find that the responsibility of a pet is more than they bargained for, and thus an overwhelming number of pets are left homeless or are taken to animal shelters that become overcrowded, according to the Humane Societies Web site.

“It’s a cool idea, but you should know what you’re getting into,” Stanley said. “Pets require more than college students expect.”