Coming into sophomore year, one of my roommates asked if the rest of us would be open to having her dog live with us as an emotional support animal (ESA). My immediate response was to say, yes! I thought, who doesn’t want a furry friend with them at college?
My roommates and I are all student-athletes, with 1 being in the military. Since we all have busy schedules, balancing a lot on our plates, there were definitely some doubts in my mind– what if we can’t take care of him? Are we going to give this dog a good life? Who’s going to take care of him if we aren’t able to for a weekend? Despite these doubts, I was excited to have her dog, Chase, join our house and embark on a new adventure!
A Calm Presence
I met Chase a few times before he moved in, so I knew what I was getting into and how he acted. He doesn’t bark or growl. After some zoomies when greeting him, Chase is a calm presence for all of us. After a long day of classes and practice, Chase will simply lay down with us while we do homework, watch a show, or sit on the kitchen floor while we cook dinner. Coming home from a long day can be exhausting, but Chase makes it easy. Even though he is a dog, he seems to sense we are all exhausted. It is refreshing to have Chase keep us company; being with him makes a peaceful end of the day.
Reduces Loneliness
My roommates and I all have different class schedules. Between the 5 of us, there is rarely a time when we are all home together. However, when I am home, Chase is there to keep me company. He greets me the second he hears the front door unlock, and will come sit next to me the second I sit on the couch. I don’t usually like being alone during the day, so when all my roommates are gone, he loves to be around me. Our house isn’t in the best area; it’s very old and we basically live in the woods. There aren’t a lot of reminders of a “college campus;” it’s a quiet area with not many people around. I feel a lot more comfortable at our house alone when Chase is with me.
Eases my Anxiety
I have been a dog person my whole life, and when I went to college, not seeing my dogs everyday was a big change for me. I have 2 dogs at home, that are ages 8 and 6; I spend a ton of time with them. When I left them, it was heartbreaking. Little did I know that I would have one sophomore year! Being a full time student-athlete, I usually have a lot going on, and can definitely get overwhelmed and anxious. I have found that Chase significantly reduces these feelings for me and helps to ease my mood. Chase always gives me something to look forward to during my long classes; whether this is playing with him or just seeing him when I get home. He always helps to put a good end to my day.
chase- the best esa
Chase is just about the lowest maintenance dog you will literally ever meet. He doesn’t bark when he sees other dogs, doesn’t bark inside the house, and loves just about every person he sees. I have had nothing but a fun time and positive experience with Chase. If you think you should get an ESA, I highly recommend a furry friend. When I am older, I will definitely be having my own dog, ESA or not. Although I was definitely skeptical of him living with us and how we would take care of him, he passed my expectations and is a great addition!