SHOULD ROOMMATES ADOPT A DOG?
“My roommates and I are thinking of adopting a dog in the near future, but aren’t sure where to start. Can you point us in the right direction?” That’s the message I got from a lovely college student who helped get a dog off the street with me back in September. The dog was hiding under a car. Two compassionate college kids spotted her running there and had been trying to lure her out with food, but she was naturally skittish. I showed up with a spare leash as I always try to keep one handy for these scenarios….as well as treats since I’m known as the treat lady by many dogs. Using time, patience, and animal communication on top of those other practical tools, I got her out and leashed very peacefully. She stayed with the college roommates until they found her person several days later. It was bittersweet for them - reuniting her with her family. There was a chance they wouldn’t find her family, so they had agreed to adopt her together otherwise. I gave them advice on dog care, decompression and safety. But adopting a dog while in college with roommates who won’t likely be roommates a few years later presents some questions. When the guys reached out last week for my thoughts on them actively looking to adopt a dog, here is what I said:
“Good for you guys. Yes, I can help. First of all, you guys will want to discuss who the primary caretaker is. Someone’s name needs to be on the adoption contract. Someone needs to be the main point person for the vet. Etcetera. You guys could do some joint letter of agreement with each other about sharing costs and whose name is on the adoption contract vs on the vet’s records vs who pays for monthly dog health insurance, for ex.
You guys will want to budget for all the essentials and have an emergency fund since dogs do have health emergencies like people sometimes. I could send you a sample budget and some basic supplies to get (collar w/ID, leashes, harness, food, bed, seatbelt/car canopy, natural flea/tick control, natural shampoo etc).
You’ll want to have consensus on the kind of dog that fits your lifestyle and environment. Are you guys looking for a running buddy or a couch potato, a puppy or a senior/more mellow adult dog, a hyper or intense working dog breed, a friendly, game-for-anything dog, a shy dog who may take a few months to decompress and bond or an outgoing dog who will enjoy all the comings and goings of the household, a dog who likes other dogs and enjoys dog parks or a dog who’s more interested in his people and hikes with them solo (know that not all dogs like dog parks even if they’re friendly to other dogs), a mixed breed medium-sized dog, a small pup like a chihuahua or a big guy like a Pitbull… and consider possible breed restrictions of places you’ll live. It’s a horrible thing, but even condo associations sometimes impose ignorant bans on big dogs or bully breeds.
And who will be the primary owner in the eyes of the law when you guys no longer live together? And who will care for the dog 5-10 years from now and in perpetuity?
Remember adopting a dog is meant to be a lifelong commitment, so roommates co-parenting so-to-speak will be a temporary situation while the dog will need permanent care. I do have a friend who adopted her first dog with roommates and all decided she’d be the primary caretaker, so that dog lived with her after school and til he died.
Also remember that if you guys are on a tight budget, smaller dogs require less calories and thus are cheaper to feed. Hyper dogs like puppies get themselves into more trouble and often require more trips to a vet. Different dogs have different needs, personalities, medical issues, emotional issues, energy levels, tastes and preferences for lifestyle, and so on.
Try to find the right fit for you….and your roommates…..and the dog you consider adopting, of course. Fostering may be something to consider as well.”