What are my options for my pets when I go to college?

You will almost certainly have to look into off-campus housing if you want to bring your pets with you. Unfortunately, many schools require first-year students to live on campus in a dormitory. You might look into whether or not the universities in which you are interested have residential learning communities.

That is, they might have special programs where all the incoming French majors live in a house together or everyone who wants to focus on how their major can promote healthy living share an apartment. If those programs are open to first-year students, you might be able to get around some of the restrictions that you would face living in a dormitory.

If none of this works out for you, don’t lose hope. Contact the schools to which you are applying and ask them if they accommodate pets in any way. You might find out that they have some unexpected options or that you can apply for special permission to bring animals with you. I won’t say that the chances of this are high, but there’s nothing to lose by asking.

Unless they are therapy dogs/animals or for other medical reasons you can’t bring them.

I know it’s hard to leave your animals, but I had to do the same with my puppy. Had to leave her with my parents when she was a bit less than a year old. It’s hard, but you aren’t leaving forever. You will be back for Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. You may have to give them away (please don’t even consider the pound though).

@College_girl I would not go to college if it came down to giving them away, and I’d sooner die than bring my pets to the pound! I can’t leave them with my mom because that would be to much for her. The bird has to be in a barricaded room so her cat can’t get him. The salamander has to be hand fed which takes up to half an hour… so on. I mean I could have a friend or two hold on to them, but I associate with limited people, and most are also going to college in a few years.
@SavoirFaire I’ll definitely look into that.
Is there any shelter type thing that would hold them for that long? Whenever we as a family go on vacation we leave my dog at this shelter place I really like. It’s only a few people there and it’s not like they’re in cages. They’re in nice pens with bedding and they’re played with and allowed to play with each other in an open yard. I think it’s pretty nice. Is there any shelters like that that would hold pets for years without having some ridiculous price of thousands of dollars?

Is your bird always in a barricade? That isn’t good for it. Is your dad out of the picture? Aunt? Uncle? Anyone? Have you looked for a college near your home? Or at least a community college?

@bluejay I don’t know of any cost-effective shelters that would hold pets for that long. You might as well just find an accommodating family member or something if you’re willing to go that far. Maybe even a friend’s family would be willing to take them for a little while. Again, contact the universities in which you are interested and investigate off-campus options if you can. The cost might be higher, but that’s always true when one cares for many pets.

@College_girl He’s in his cage in my room and the door is barricaded. When I go in there with him I let him fly around. I think I know someone that can take my salamander until I come back. He’s good with reptiles and such and he’s my friends brother. The previous owners of my bird might be able to house him until I’m back, so that just leaves my dog and cat.

Does your dog require a yard or is it a house dog that gets walked for potty times? Most rentals don’t care about birds or small reptiles but dogs/cats usually have to be disclosed. Tons of rentals allow dogs/cats with small deposits paid down.

If you’re considering campus housing then check their policies. I’d think the bird and salamander would be ok (as long as ok with any roomies).

well you should tell your mum that cats are very independent and you only have to make sure they have food and water and to clean their litter box once in a while. As for the dog, see if any relatives or friends can watch him

My college required three years of on campus housing. I enjoyed dorm life for the first two years but missed my cat very much, and decided to pay for the third year of housing but leave the room vacant, and live off-campus. I think that while dorm life is certainly fun, you definitely won’t be missing out on “the college experience” if you choose to find an alternative. Unfortunately, most any college will extort at least one years’ worth of dorm fees from you, unless you are a scholarshipped athlete.