Social Media
Journalist, Interrupted
"THE HAZY THOUGHTS OF A FUTURE JOURNALIST"
"THE HAZY THOUGHTS OF A FUTURE JOURNALIST"
Contact
EMAIL
Stephens College Pet Central Grows Since Last Year’s Opening
BY Sydney Miller & Anna Burkart
Intended for the Columbia Missourian
BY Sydney Miller & Anna Burkart
Intended for the Columbia Missourian
BY SYDNEY MILLER & ANNA BURKART
Max and Tyler roughhouse while another playmate wets the couch. Toys are abundant and there is never a shortage of companionship.
This scene is not a typical day care; it is the Doggie Day Care program in the basement of Searcy Hall at Stephens College.
Max, a Lhasa apso, and Tyler, a Labrador mix, are two beneficiaries of the program. Last year, Stephens College renovated Searcy Hall, a residence hall, to accommodate students and pets ranging from dogs to hedgehogs. The hall is commonly referred to as Pet Central.
Stephens became officially pet-friendly in 2004 when the new president, Dianne Lynch, got behind the idea of a pilot program for pet owners. Initially, pet owners took over a few wings or a floor of various residence halls. Last year the amount of students requesting to bring their pets had grown to the point that Stephens’ administrators decided to create a residence hall just for them.
This year, Pet Central is home to more than 50 residents and their pets. The amount of pet owners is so great, they have overflowed from Pet Central to occupy the two top floors of Stephens’ Prunty Hall, another residence hall.
Pet Central has become a draw for many collegiate pet owners. One student, Amanda Gleissner, opted to transfer from Cottey College in Nevada, Mo., on the basis of Stephens’ pet-friendly atmosphere. Gleissner, a biology major aspiring to be a veterinarian, chose to work at the Doggie Day Care for her work-study hours.
“It’s a good place if someone’s in class all day and they can use it,” said Gleissner, owner of Shasta. “I haven’t used it yet for (my dog) because she’s kind of strong and she might go after a squirrel and get loose. But I think for some people it works really well, who are in class all day.”
However, Gleissner does take Shasta to socialize at Doggie Day Care while she’s working. Tyler, the Labrador mix, is another dog who gets the opportunity to socialize thanks to the program, since his owner is a dance major and generally has dance practice in the evening. The day care is available to resident canines from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Christy McPherson, veterinarian at Columbia’s All Creatures Animal Hospital, said a dog day care is great opportunity for the dogs living in the residence halls and can help those more anxious canines alleviate stress.
“Doggie Day Care allows the pet to get a lot of energy out,” McPherson said. “It’s much better and different exercise than just walking a dog. It socializes them with other dogs, and they learn to act appropriately with other dogs.”
The dogs have free range of the Doggie Day Care basement area to run and play with each other. The work-study students at the center take the dogs outside on regular walks depending on when their owners had taken them out last.
While the new Pet Central offers Doggie Day Care, the residence hall lacks central air conditioning. This creates discomfort for students and their pets, Fredericks said.
McPherson expressed concern for certain breeds that do not adapt well to heat and are at risk of overheating. In general, however, she said animals are very adaptable.
Deb Duren, vice president of student services, said this hasn’t been an issue, because extreme heat only lasts a few short weeks at the beginning of the fall semester. However, if the heat does become unbearable, students have other options.
“We have other common spaces that might be air conditioned, for a pet owner to go bunk out for a night,” Duren said.
Stephens also provides fans for students; but, for Melissa Frederick’s 11-year-old cat Leo, fans were not sufficient. Fredericks took him back home to Chicago to avoid any health problems associated with the heat.
Max and Tyler roughhouse while another playmate wets the couch. Toys are abundant and there is never a shortage of companionship.
This scene is not a typical day care; it is the Doggie Day Care program in the basement of Searcy Hall at Stephens College.
Max, a Lhasa apso, and Tyler, a Labrador mix, are two beneficiaries of the program. Last year, Stephens College renovated Searcy Hall, a residence hall, to accommodate students and pets ranging from dogs to hedgehogs. The hall is commonly referred to as Pet Central.
Stephens became officially pet-friendly in 2004 when the new president, Dianne Lynch, got behind the idea of a pilot program for pet owners. Initially, pet owners took over a few wings or a floor of various residence halls. Last year the amount of students requesting to bring their pets had grown to the point that Stephens’ administrators decided to create a residence hall just for them.
This year, Pet Central is home to more than 50 residents and their pets. The amount of pet owners is so great, they have overflowed from Pet Central to occupy the two top floors of Stephens’ Prunty Hall, another residence hall.
Pet Central has become a draw for many collegiate pet owners. One student, Amanda Gleissner, opted to transfer from Cottey College in Nevada, Mo., on the basis of Stephens’ pet-friendly atmosphere. Gleissner, a biology major aspiring to be a veterinarian, chose to work at the Doggie Day Care for her work-study hours.
“It’s a good place if someone’s in class all day and they can use it,” said Gleissner, owner of Shasta. “I haven’t used it yet for (my dog) because she’s kind of strong and she might go after a squirrel and get loose. But I think for some people it works really well, who are in class all day.”
However, Gleissner does take Shasta to socialize at Doggie Day Care while she’s working. Tyler, the Labrador mix, is another dog who gets the opportunity to socialize thanks to the program, since his owner is a dance major and generally has dance practice in the evening. The day care is available to resident canines from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Christy McPherson, veterinarian at Columbia’s All Creatures Animal Hospital, said a dog day care is great opportunity for the dogs living in the residence halls and can help those more anxious canines alleviate stress.
“Doggie Day Care allows the pet to get a lot of energy out,” McPherson said. “It’s much better and different exercise than just walking a dog. It socializes them with other dogs, and they learn to act appropriately with other dogs.”
The dogs have free range of the Doggie Day Care basement area to run and play with each other. The work-study students at the center take the dogs outside on regular walks depending on when their owners had taken them out last.
While the new Pet Central offers Doggie Day Care, the residence hall lacks central air conditioning. This creates discomfort for students and their pets, Fredericks said.
McPherson expressed concern for certain breeds that do not adapt well to heat and are at risk of overheating. In general, however, she said animals are very adaptable.
Deb Duren, vice president of student services, said this hasn’t been an issue, because extreme heat only lasts a few short weeks at the beginning of the fall semester. However, if the heat does become unbearable, students have other options.
“We have other common spaces that might be air conditioned, for a pet owner to go bunk out for a night,” Duren said.
Stephens also provides fans for students; but, for Melissa Frederick’s 11-year-old cat Leo, fans were not sufficient. Fredericks took him back home to Chicago to avoid any health problems associated with the heat.
Skittish 1-year-old Mae, a puppy mill rescue dog from Columbia Second Chance, hides behind the legs of her foster parent, Katie Clark on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011, in Columbia, Mo. Columbia Second Chance and the Columbia Humane Society work with students at Stephens College through a foster pet parent program, to socialize animals for adoption.
Biology major Amanda Gleissner restrains her dog, Shasta, who quivers in excitement after spotting a squirrel on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011, in Columbia, Mo. Gleissner, who does her work-study hours for Stephens’ Doggie Day Care program, transferred to Stephens College after learning about Pet Central.
While many pet owners are aware their pet’s needs, some residents struggle to control the noise level of their animals and might not recognize that their pets are not fit for residence hall life.
Students who struggle with their pet can expect to face the college’s Judicial Board. Students on the board work with the student and their mischievous pet to try to find solutions before resorting to expulsion of the pet. In the past, the board suggested solutions such as anti-bark collars for dogs with barking issues.
Since 2004, Duren recalls only two instances of having to remove an animal from the owner’s care. She stresses these were not situations of physical abuse.
“I have zero tolerance for anyone who is not taking really good care of their pets,” Duren said. “I have access to a place for an animal to stay, if the owner isn’t treating it appropriately.”
The few cases of neglect are overshadowed by a large number of responsible animal-lovers in Searcy Hall. Some residents who couldn’t bring their pets or wanted a second around have elected to be foster pet parents.
“I thought fostering would be a good way to have a pet but not have to have that financial responsibility,” Stephens student Katie Clark said.
Clark fosters a year old Bichon Frise, Mae, from Columbia Second Chance.
“When I first got Mae she would hide in a corner in my room the entire day… It’s sad, but she’ll make someone a great dog once she gets better socialized with humans,” Clark said.
Clark said residence hall life is an ideal situation to help socialize an animal.
“They get that experience of living in noisy halls and being around a lot of different pets and a lot of different people…I think it just gives them a better opportunity of getting adopted because the adoptees know that they’ve been out there and had those real life experiences,” she added.
Fredericks recalled two stories of students finding homes for their foster pet simply by taking their daily walks around campus in the past year.
“One was taking the dog out and sure enough one of the teachers ended up adopting the dog,” Fredericks said. “It’s just nice to that if you’re not able to bring a dog down here you’re still able to help and get a home for it.”
No matter the reason for having a pet at college, McPherson said the presence of animals tends to have a positive, therapeutic effect on residents.
“Most people are happier when there is a pet around,” she said.
Students who struggle with their pet can expect to face the college’s Judicial Board. Students on the board work with the student and their mischievous pet to try to find solutions before resorting to expulsion of the pet. In the past, the board suggested solutions such as anti-bark collars for dogs with barking issues.
Since 2004, Duren recalls only two instances of having to remove an animal from the owner’s care. She stresses these were not situations of physical abuse.
“I have zero tolerance for anyone who is not taking really good care of their pets,” Duren said. “I have access to a place for an animal to stay, if the owner isn’t treating it appropriately.”
The few cases of neglect are overshadowed by a large number of responsible animal-lovers in Searcy Hall. Some residents who couldn’t bring their pets or wanted a second around have elected to be foster pet parents.
“I thought fostering would be a good way to have a pet but not have to have that financial responsibility,” Stephens student Katie Clark said.
Clark fosters a year old Bichon Frise, Mae, from Columbia Second Chance.
“When I first got Mae she would hide in a corner in my room the entire day… It’s sad, but she’ll make someone a great dog once she gets better socialized with humans,” Clark said.
Clark said residence hall life is an ideal situation to help socialize an animal.
“They get that experience of living in noisy halls and being around a lot of different pets and a lot of different people…I think it just gives them a better opportunity of getting adopted because the adoptees know that they’ve been out there and had those real life experiences,” she added.
Fredericks recalled two stories of students finding homes for their foster pet simply by taking their daily walks around campus in the past year.
“One was taking the dog out and sure enough one of the teachers ended up adopting the dog,” Fredericks said. “It’s just nice to that if you’re not able to bring a dog down here you’re still able to help and get a home for it.”
No matter the reason for having a pet at college, McPherson said the presence of animals tends to have a positive, therapeutic effect on residents.
“Most people are happier when there is a pet around,” she said.
Max, a Lhasa apso, guards his collection of chew toys while Tyler, a Labrador mix, takes a break from playing at Doggie Day Care on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, in Columbia, Mo. Max and Tyler are regulars at the day care, which watches dogs from noon to 6 p.m., when students are unable to be with their dog.
Anja Harlow offers Luna, her Labrador-Husky mix breed, a treat after obediently sitting on Sept. 28, 2011, in Columbia, Mo. Harlow and Luna live in Prunty Hall, next door to Pet Central. The two top floors of Prunty Hall are occupied by pet owners in addition to Pet Central, in order to address the increase in requests by residents to bring their animals to college.
Stephens student Katie Clark takes a break from walking her foster pet, Mae (not pictured) with a fellow student’s pet, Parker, on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011, in Columbia, Mo. Clark decided to become a foster pet parent because she was unable to afford a pet of her own at college. The Columbia Second Chance provides Clark with food, water, medical supplies, toys and leashes for Mae.
Tyler, a Labrador mix, watches through the window of Doggie Day Care as a Stephens College student take her dog for a walk on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, in Columbia, Mo. The day care is located in the basement of Searcy Hall at Stephens and is free to residents, but expects students to provide toys, cleaning supplies and treats for the dogs being watched.
Stephens senior Melissa Fredericks discusses her experience of living in Pet Central with her cat, Leo. Even before an entire residence hall was devoted to pet owners, Fredericks had been taking advantage of Stephens’ pet-friendly floors since her freshman year. (1:05)