Life without a dog

As the majority of people who read this know, I have been dog-less up here in PEI.  Initially when I got accepted to this school and decided I was indeed moving to Canada I was going to bring Nonie with me, but when we ended up putting her to sleep it left me without a companion up here.  Most of the time, I miss having a dog to come home and spend time with, to hike with, and to spoil rotten.  There is not a substitute for a dog in your life- stuffed animals, friends of the human variety, and cats won't do.  Don't get me wrong-- stuffed animals can be decorative, everyone needs human friendship in life and I love cats, but the time spent and bond you form with a dog is something words don't do justice.  

If you were clever you picked up on the fact that I used the preface most of the time to the above statement.  You probably brushed by the usage and continued on.  However, I meant just that- MOST of the time.  The thing about ownership of a dog, or any animal, is that they rely on you for everything- food, water, potty places (or trips outside), and most of all your love and companionship.  Without a doubt I could and would happily spend all my money on the material things an animal needs.  I would also shower them with my love and affection and of course walks.  The problem is, that vet school- the very place you enroll to learn to better take care of these companions- is not very accommodating to owning an animal who relies on you for so much.  Don't get me wrong-- many many of my friends and class mates, as well as many people before me, have or have had pets while they go to vet school.  Many of them own cats, some own rodents/pocket pets/ferrets/exotics, and still multiple own dogs as well.  I in no way mean to insinuate they don't provide all of the above things for their pets (often times, I am positive they go beyond for them!)  I mean this post to serve as a reflection of me, and my opinions.  

This current moment is not the appropriate time for me to have a dog.  There are days in my schedule where I am at school by 7:30, and I don't leave until 7.  That's 12 hours of school.  If I owned a dog, I could skip home at lunch to let them out briefly, and if I had commitments after school I could always arrange to run home and let them out again and feed them between end of classes and when I needed to be back for a meeting, studying or what have you.  Still, the dog would be alone from the time I went to class early in the morning, see me for a span of 15 minutes for a quick lunch/potty break, and again for a quick dinner/potty break... and by the time I got home from school I would be too tired, or backed up on school work to provide quality play time/walk/cuddles etc.  Granted, this schedule is not an every day occurrence, there are days like Wednesdays where I go to school late, and come home early.  I have weekends for the most part to study but could also easily do all things related to doggie fun.  This semester Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays however, I am at school until at least 4:30 PM.  When I come home, I sit down and veg out for a few minutes before starting to study again.  Often, I study til 11 or 12, go to bed, get up in time to get ready for school and am out the door.  If I added a dog to this routine, I would have to get up earlier to take care of the animal (a sacrifice I could adjust to), but also risk major distractions while I am trying to study in a short period of time.  If anyone has ever tried to get me to study, you are aware of how easily distracted I can be.     

Nonie, getting ready for one of her many naps

So, even though I miss having a companion in my life, I don't regret my current living situation.  If I had Nonie here it would have been a different set of circumstances all together.  So much of what I said above depends on the dog involved, every bit as much as it depends on me.  Nonie was the kind of dog who was most content sleeping  snoring on the couch for the day.  Usually she required begging to get her to go outside more than twice a day.  If you were late getting home she accepted it.  She was used to being home longer hours.  I would have felt guilty knowing I was running late and she had been waiting for her dinner, but I also would have known she could handle it.  She was a versatile dog which is what is required if you are going to have animals (in my opinion) while you are at vet school.  I don't think too many of my fellow students would disagree that they wish they were home more to spend time with their animals.  

More than once this school year I've thought I should really consider adopting a dog.  However, given the amount of class hours/time spent at school outside of that, I don't regret my decision to live solo.  I have my little "stray" kitty who comes by fairly regularly for snacks, a cuddle, and then he is off again, which is precisely what I feel I can contribute to a relationship with an animal right now.  From my understanding, second year you have more time where you are home, and the hours are a bit more conducive to pet owning.  Once I have the schedule in front of me for next year, I'll reevaluate owning an animal.  I've decided when I am ready it will definitely not be a young dog I take on.  I know senior dogs carry their own baggage and heartbreak because you inevitably get less time and risk more medical issues with them, but truly that's where my heart is.  Senior dogs available for adoption tug my heart strings every time, they deserve the chance to enjoy the end of their time on earth, and when I have the time to devote to them, I will once again have a dog to greet me when I come home.