2008 Woodie Awards
Pets in college - are you ready?
Charlie Peppers
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: FUSE
Originally published: 3/6/08 at 11:42 PM EST
Last update: 3/6/08 at 11:40 PM EST
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Your car got a parking ticket for the umpteenth time. Your professor sprung a pop quiz on your 9 a.m. class. You tried sliding down the banister in ACC and stumbled, nearly falling down the stairs in front of a slew of other students.
As you twist the door knob to your off-campus apartment, you imagine that nothing can brighten your sullen mood.
Upon opening your door and feeling your puppy nuzzle your leg with its nose, you're proven wrong, and can't help smiling.
Plattsburgh State students who live off-campus have become fond of adopting pets. There's romance in the prospect of coming home to an affectionate kitten or an energetic puppy.
Unfortunately, most PSUC students fail to realize that taking care on a pet can be extremely taxing.
Kallie Torrance, off-campus student, is well-aware of the similarities between being a pet owner and being a single parent.
She has to juggle both her responsibilities as a scholar and the surrogate mother of two pets - her dog Shakespeare and her cat Leila.
"If I want to sleep in on Saturday until 12 p.m., I can't because I have to walk Shakespeare at 8 or 9 a.m.," Torrance said. "I usually walk him for fifteen minutes, four times a day. Feeding doesn't take that long - it's a ten minute process."
Torrance said that the joys of raising a pet far outweigh the grueling tasks, however.
She feels a sense of fulfillment from taking care of a pet.
"I've had two dogs in my house since I was born, and I felt like my apartment was empty without one," Torrance said.
She has learned to build her schedule around the needs of both Shakespeare and Leila.
Torrance said that her shoes got chewed on plenty of times before she successfully managed to carve out slices of her day to curl up with her pets.
"I'll go to class and afterwards I'll grab a quick bite to eat before heading home to spend time with my dog. My cat is more aloof and doesn't mind doing her own thing, but dogs need a lot of attention," Torrance explained.
There are many students who possess neither Torrance's time management skills nor her patience. Some students grow frustrated and abandon their dogs in front of an animal shelter. Other students chuck their dogs out into the great open of Clinton County.
Many PSUC students may not know that there are alternatives to having their pets cooped up inside of their apartments all day long.
The Adirondack Pet Lodge offers walks, play-time and grooming for pets.
Rebecca Brounk, assistant manager, was confident about the lodge as a comfortable place for dogs and cats to let their hair down.
"We're a daycare for both cats and dogs," Brounk said. "Everyone here is hired because they love dogs. The workers are constantly doing things, whether it's cleaning up and playing around with the animals."
Pets also get the star treatment at the Adirondack Pet Lodge. There are kennels - ranging from 8 x 4 to 8 x 8 in size - equipped with color televisions and web-cams. The owners of pets can check in on their pets via the internet whenever they please.
There is also Dog's Best Friend, a pet-grooming boutique.
Tracy Polomsky, owner of Dog's Best Friend, takes a great deal of pride in her job.
"It's a very enjoyable profession and I've been doing it for 20 years," she said. "I like the creative part of it. My other employees do bathing and drying, but I'm the main stylist. I also don't have to listen to the clients complain. Humans tend to dump the problem-of-the-week on their beauticians."
With a plethora of ways to spoil your pet, the life of a dog or cat in Plattsburgh can easily be glamorous.
PSUC students must know whether or not their schedule agrees with the needs of their pet.
Students agree that, although enjoyable, it is a challenge to be taken seriously.
"If you don't have time I wouldn't suggest getting a dog," Torrance said. "It's a full-time job."
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