More students owning dogs gives campus
friendlier feel
Lauren Doxsey / Features Editor
A significant number of Elon students are not just living
with roommates anymore. More students around campus,
especially those who live in off-campus houses or apartments,
are bringing their pets, specifically dogs, to college with
them.
Owning a dog while in college adds more responsibility to
the student on top of their busy schedule. Many wonder
if having a pet while in school is really worth it.
Sophomore Maggie Santry believes it isn't smart for a
student to have a dog, especially when they are busy with a
lot of activities, whether it be schoolwork or
extracurricular.
"I don't agree with those who are college age
having dogs," Santry said. " A dog needs a
family and loving care. I don't think that a dog
can benefit from the college atmosphere."
Students, as well as faculty members, who own dogs can be
seen regularly walking around campus, which tends to give the
campus a friendlier feel.
Economics professor Jennifer Platania is one faculty member
who takes her yellow Labrador retriever, Quincy, out on walks
around campus.
"I routinely run into students who comment on how much
they miss their dogs and who ask to pet Quincy,"
Platania said. "I believe that this gives the
campus both a friendly and casual feel."
Platania lives fairly close to Elon's campus, so it is
convenient for her to take 8-year-old Quincy to campus.
She usually takes Quincy for walks usually three to four
times a week around campus.
"Elon is mainly a good place for Quincy to run in a
park-like environment. The pond is a good place to
chase ducks, and the old intramural fields and practice
football field are good places to play ball," Platania
said.
The majority of students who choose to have a dog at school
with them live off-campus, since pets are not allowed in the
on-campus residential housing. Senior George Memory is
one student who has taken this path.
"Having a dog at school isn't as bad as some may
think," Memory said.
"My roommates help out a lot, which is nice."
Memory has a 6-month-old Pekingese named Murphy and does not
live that far outside of Elon, so it is simple for him to
bring his dog home if need be. He says he brings Murphy
home every month or so.
Memory also regularly takes Murphy on walks around campus
and gets great responses from other students as well as
faculty members about his dog.
"Others think Murphy is adorable," Memory
said. "They sometimes even offer to care of
him."
However, with the busy schedule associated with the normal
college student life, owning a dog may not be right for
everyone.
"While it might sound like fun to have a dog, the
reality is that this dog will consume your life for the next
10 or more years and most college students are not prepared
for that type of commitment at this stage of their
lives," Platania said.
Memory disagrees.
"I think responsibility varies on the students'
workload and involvement throughout campus," Memory
said. "Being a senior and coasting through my last
semester, I have tons of free time. Murphy keeps me
busy and teaches me how to be more responsible."
Platania leaves students who own dogs good advice,
"always clean up after your dog! Elon is a
beautiful place and we try our best to leave it the way we
found it."
Contact Lauren Doxsey at pendulum@elon.edu or
278-7247.
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Ryan
Howard / Photographer