Furry Friends on Campus
Word on the street is that there are some secret four-legged creatures being harbored among us Homo sapien students. Whether kept more incognito in dorms or being strolled around campus or the Kipp Trail, the question of why these pets are present – and whether or not they ethically should be – remains. To get to the bottom of this conundrum, I interviewed Charlotte Blake ’27 on the backstory of her (alleged) (ex) furry companion.
Blake said she and her roommate found their helpless baby kitty in the woods near the riding barn on the cool night of September 16, 2024. “We weren’t sure if he could last in a shelter or otherwise what to do with him before we figured out a more permanent plan for him.” As a result, they (allegedly) decided to take him in. Tiger over-cramped their small Sykes double for about seven weeks until he could be taken home to Blake’s family over the mid-semester break in October. “The goal was never to keep him [all year] … and now he gets along well with my other pets at home.”
Although Blake said that (allegedly) having a pet on-campus was an incredibly fun, special experience, she acknowledges that in Tiger’s case, it has been healthier for him to reside with her family. This is because he “has more space and attention to explore and develop.” Additionally, taking care of an animal full-time posed several challenges and often became a source of stress. She and her roommate were able to be efficient in rotating responsibility, taking turns caring for him throughout the course of the day. The girls also had numerous friends who were willing to pitch in, so Tiger was never left unattended for too long. However, managing medical bills and the unpredictability of a baby kitten’s sleep schedule was, unavoidably, quite difficult.
When asked about other pets on campus and whether she believed that having an unregistered animal on campus long-term was ethical, Blake said that she did know of a few other (alleged) dorm pets. However, she could not comment on their living conditions, nor the quality of the care being awarded to them. In general, she concluded that the dilemma is highly situational. “I think if you’re really dedicated to giving your pet a lot of time throughout your day, or if the animal is older or more laid-back in nature, then it would be more ethical,” said Blake in comparison to her young, energetic Tiger.
Blake and all those who knew Tiger will always keep his on-campus days in their memory. Especially the times when he would cuddle up with the humans present to watch Sex and the City or get freaked out and do a backflip. Yet, in the end, they all understand the importance of his growing up and moving out to accomplish bigger and better things!
After all, nothing gold (with stripey, orange hues) can stay.