I remember having conversations with my high school friends about moving away for university. We talked about the excitement of a new place and new friends. We shared concerns about getting a bad roommate or struggling with the workload. But as my move-in day grew closer, my mind always came back to one thing: going off to university meant leaving my dogs behind. Photo by @torandtallie
This was very difficult for me to accept. I am nothing short of obsessed with my two dogs that I grew up with. On the day I left home, I didn’t cry until it came time to say goodbye to them. Since then, I’ve gotten used to it, but I still miss having them around every day. During my time here at Western, I’ve learned a few ways to keep dogs in my life and make the time away from home a little easier.
If your parents or siblings who live at home don’t already have Snapchat, ask them to start snapping you lots of pictures and videos of your dog. It’s a great way to get a daily glimpse of what your dog is doing. Of course, you can also FaceTime your family members and ask to speak to your dog. Even just staring at your dog sleeping for a few seconds on FaceTime can make you feel like you’re right next to them.
If you’re the type of person who takes 75 pictures of your dog anytime they do something remotely cute, consider running an Instagram account for them. The dog community on Instagram is thriving, and it can be fun to edit and post pictures of your dog and share them with friends. Make sure to take lots of photos every time you’re home.
You can also get your dog fix right here at Western. The London-Middlesex St.John Ambulance therapy dogs make regular visits to the Mustang Lounge as well as residence buildings to help students deal with stress. Keep an eye on the Western Wellness Events Calendar to see when and where the therapy dogs will be visiting next.
Mulligan the therapy dog, photo by Cassia Pelton
If you want to spend time with dogs and make a profit, you can sign sign up for an app called Rover. Rover is just like Uber, except it’s for dog sitters and walkers. If you have a pet-friendly living situation, you can host dogs. Or, you can sign up to walk dogs and do drop-in visits at dog owners’ homes. You must pass a background check before becoming an eligible dog sitter—but after that you’ll be able to meet dozens of new dogs!
My final tip is to have virtual, fluffy study buddies. My favorite way to study is with a Microsoft Word document open on one side of my screen and the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary 24/7 livestream open on the other side. You can watch these sweet old dogs sleep, eat, and even play outside.
Photo by Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary
Most importantly, spend lots of time with your dog over breaks and weekends home. Don’t take the time together for granted. Take your dog on a new and exciting route for your walk or let them sleep on your bed even though you usually wouldn’t allow it. When you’re away at school suffering through midterms, you will be thankful for the memories you have with your dog.
Related articles:
- What My Puppy Taught Me and Why I Promptly Rehomed Him
- Finding Your Happiness Equation
- Western Became My Home Away From Home
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