Pets in law school Forum
- WVUCelticFan
- Posts: 217
- Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 5:44 pm
Re: Pets in law school
Thanks for the responses everyone. My old dog at home was a mutt that we got from the animal shelter. If I do wind up getting one, it would be a similar situation. W&M and W&L are my two main options, with a pet probably only being an option at W&L. It's also close to my farm, so it would get a chance to make some day trips to be out and about more too. Thanks for all the warnings too, it'll be something I have to really think about.
I saw mention of reptiles and a cat in the thread too. Any one else with thoughts on non-dog pets?
I saw mention of reptiles and a cat in the thread too. Any one else with thoughts on non-dog pets?
- vissidarte27
- Posts: 434
- Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 3:43 pm
Re: Pets in law school
Cats are fantastic. Low-maintainence, fuzzy, don't mind if you're away for long periods of time, playful, can be snuggly (depending on the cat). I had one when I lived in Chicago and she kept me sane in a lot of ways.
- northwood
- Posts: 5036
- Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 7:29 pm
Re: Pets in law school
Get some fish. I had fish in undergrad, it was not a big deal. Yes, you cant do anything with them, and you ahve to clean the tank once a week, but they are not a lot of work.
I would strongly suggest you think about waitining to get a dog. They are a lot of work, and it is unfair to you and to the dog if you cant/ dont want to put the time and effort to take care of them, and entertain them.
You can always get a dog once you get settled in your career. ONce you get it, you are in for the long haul. There is only a few worse creatures in the world, than someone who neglects/ abandons/ mistreats animals. Even if it starts out innocently wanting it, you cant keep a dog caged all day. its just not fair
/end rant
I would strongly suggest you think about waitining to get a dog. They are a lot of work, and it is unfair to you and to the dog if you cant/ dont want to put the time and effort to take care of them, and entertain them.
You can always get a dog once you get settled in your career. ONce you get it, you are in for the long haul. There is only a few worse creatures in the world, than someone who neglects/ abandons/ mistreats animals. Even if it starts out innocently wanting it, you cant keep a dog caged all day. its just not fair
/end rant
- ccoons24
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Sat May 29, 2010 11:55 am
Re: Pets in law school
Food for thought: You've gotten a few people warning you against getting a dog, but I haven't seen anyone yet that's said "Yeah, I got a dog and it was a mistake." You're right to heed the warnings, but I think most dog owners will agree: the benefits far outweigh the costs. Make sure you're ready for the commitment, by all means, but even with all the work, training, midnight trips to the vet and the expense (among other things) being a dog owner has cost me, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world and will probably be adding another four legged furball to my life soon.
- afc1910
- Posts: 99
- Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:25 pm
Re: Pets in law school
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Last edited by afc1910 on Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Trustbuster
- Posts: 102
- Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 4:48 pm
Re: Pets in law school
I plan on getting a small animal. Guinea pig or chinchilla or the like.
-
- Posts: 222
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:55 pm
Re: Pets in law school
I can't help but laugh when people say there is no time for things like pets in law school. I have two cats that I got in October of my 1L year. I feed them twice a day, scoop their litter box once, and empty their litter box once a week. Somehow I find the time...
My 2L friend--who made law review--had her dog throughout 1L. I personally loved having my cats because they were such great stress relief. In the middle of my Civ Pro take home exam I looked over and saw one of them lying flat on her back, legs splayed. It was hilarious and such a great mental break in the middle of something super stressful.
Long story short...you have time for a pet and they'll actually help you.
My 2L friend--who made law review--had her dog throughout 1L. I personally loved having my cats because they were such great stress relief. In the middle of my Civ Pro take home exam I looked over and saw one of them lying flat on her back, legs splayed. It was hilarious and such a great mental break in the middle of something super stressful.
Long story short...you have time for a pet and they'll actually help you.
- Marionberry
- Posts: 1302
- Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 9:24 pm
Re: Pets in law school
I don't think anyone was saying "don't have a pet", but the general idea was don't get a dog, and especially not a puppy, if you won't be able to take good care of it, which may be difficult while you're starting law school.viking138 wrote:I can't help but laugh when people say there is no time for things like pets in law school. I have two cats that I got in October of my 1L year. I feed them twice a day, scoop their litter box once, and empty their litter box once a week. Somehow I find the time...
My 2L friend--who made law review--had her dog throughout 1L. I personally loved having my cats because they were such great stress relief. In the middle of my Civ Pro take home exam I looked over and saw one of them lying flat on her back, legs splayed. It was hilarious and such a great mental break in the middle of something super stressful.
Long story short...you have time for a pet and they'll actually help you.
- akili
- Posts: 1950
- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:21 pm
Re: Pets in law school
Cats = waaaaay easier than dogs, btw
My dog requires at least an hour of walking or 30 minutes at an off-leash dog park to be chill. We usually play fetch for a half hour every night too. Granted, he's a puppy and pretty high energy but still. You have to walk dogs.
On the plus side, dogs are awesome.
My dog requires at least an hour of walking or 30 minutes at an off-leash dog park to be chill. We usually play fetch for a half hour every night too. Granted, he's a puppy and pretty high energy but still. You have to walk dogs.
On the plus side, dogs are awesome.
- Marionberry
- Posts: 1302
- Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 9:24 pm
Re: Pets in law school
+1000000000000akili wrote:dogs are awesome.
- northwood
- Posts: 5036
- Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 7:29 pm
Re: Pets in law school
akili wrote:Cats = waaaaay easier than dogs, btw
My dog requires at least an hour of walking or 30 minutes at an off-leash dog park to be chill. We usually play fetch for a half hour every night too. Granted, he's a puppy and pretty high energy but still. You have to walk dogs.
On the plus side, dogs are awesome.
+A Billion.
Dogs are the best. end of story
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- Posts: 20063
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2010 7:06 pm
Re: Pets in law school
Dogs are seriously a PITA compared to cats. Don't get me wrong, I love dogs, but the work differential is astronomical.
The one thing I want to say is that you won't know what it will be like until you have one. You can hear about it all you like, and Marionberry gives a great little overview of how much work can really come with the territory, but talking the talk and walking the walk are two different things.
What this means to me is that if you've grown up with pets and understand all the work that goes into caring them, you've already got a leg up. Heck I grew up with a half dozen cats, several dogs, fish, lizards, and a hamster and I was still afraid that I would be horrible at taking care of my kitten when I first got him. If you've had pets before, you know what it takes (maybe not to the extent that is puppy training, but you have a general idea) and I think for those people they are in a better place to decide if they should get a pet.
People who have never lived with pets, I would say take a much harder look at it and definitely try something like dogsitting for a friend to get an idea. When you get a pet, you are going to be its owner for the rest of its life and you are responsible for being good to that animal. I will likely have the two cats I have now well into my 30's and hopefully my 40's. Pets deserve the same level of gravitas about deciding on getting one as children do. I think a little fear on a future pet owner's part is a good thing, something to motivate you to be a good owner because they are plenty of bad ones out there.
The one thing I want to say is that you won't know what it will be like until you have one. You can hear about it all you like, and Marionberry gives a great little overview of how much work can really come with the territory, but talking the talk and walking the walk are two different things.
What this means to me is that if you've grown up with pets and understand all the work that goes into caring them, you've already got a leg up. Heck I grew up with a half dozen cats, several dogs, fish, lizards, and a hamster and I was still afraid that I would be horrible at taking care of my kitten when I first got him. If you've had pets before, you know what it takes (maybe not to the extent that is puppy training, but you have a general idea) and I think for those people they are in a better place to decide if they should get a pet.
People who have never lived with pets, I would say take a much harder look at it and definitely try something like dogsitting for a friend to get an idea. When you get a pet, you are going to be its owner for the rest of its life and you are responsible for being good to that animal. I will likely have the two cats I have now well into my 30's and hopefully my 40's. Pets deserve the same level of gravitas about deciding on getting one as children do. I think a little fear on a future pet owner's part is a good thing, something to motivate you to be a good owner because they are plenty of bad ones out there.
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- Marionberry
- Posts: 1302
- Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 9:24 pm
Re: Pets in law school
example:
I had to get up at 5:50 this morning so that I could get my workout in and take a dog to the vet. This was an unexpected trip, as we found a bump under his skin last night while petting him. This was an unexpected 2 hour chore and $90 expense.
Good news is it is just an abcess that may be a little inflamed. They took a sample and not cancer, so it's a relief. Tomorrow taking the other dog into the vet at 8am to get a bump on his head looked at, probably just a wart but potentially a small mast cell tumor. Will also probably be getting up at 5:50.
I had to get up at 5:50 this morning so that I could get my workout in and take a dog to the vet. This was an unexpected trip, as we found a bump under his skin last night while petting him. This was an unexpected 2 hour chore and $90 expense.
Good news is it is just an abcess that may be a little inflamed. They took a sample and not cancer, so it's a relief. Tomorrow taking the other dog into the vet at 8am to get a bump on his head looked at, probably just a wart but potentially a small mast cell tumor. Will also probably be getting up at 5:50.
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- Posts: 20063
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2010 7:06 pm
Re: Pets in law school
Your 1000th post was about your dog, cute.Marionberry wrote:example:
I had to get up at 5:50 this morning so that I could get my workout in and take a dog to the vet. This was an unexpected trip, as we found a bump under his skin last night while petting him. This was an unexpected 2 hour chore and $90 expense.
Good news is it is just an abcess that may be a little inflamed. They took a sample and not cancer, so it's a relief. Tomorrow taking the other dog into the vet at 8am to get a bump on his head looked at, probably just a wart but potentially a small mast cell tumor. Will also probably be getting up at 5:50.

- akili
- Posts: 1950
- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:21 pm
Re: Pets in law school
+1Marionberry wrote:example:
I had to get up at 5:50 this morning so that I could get my workout in and take a dog to the vet. This was an unexpected trip, as we found a bump under his skin last night while petting him. This was an unexpected 2 hour chore and $90 expense.
Good news is it is just an abcess that may be a little inflamed. They took a sample and not cancer, so it's a relief. Tomorrow taking the other dog into the vet at 8am to get a bump on his head looked at, probably just a wart but potentially a small mast cell tumor. Will also probably be getting up at 5:50.
I'm working 10+ hours today and when I get home my dog won't care that I'm tired. He's gonna want to play and jump and run when I just want to crash on the couch. You figure it out though, and after he's done running around like a maniac, he'll cuddle up to me on the couch. That's my favorite part

- Marionberry
- Posts: 1302
- Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 9:24 pm
Re: Pets in law school
Akili, I know you live in Austin, do you have a vet you like? I don't know why I'm asking since I'm moving in 6 months, but I've been less than impressed the last couple of times I've been to mine.
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- akili
- Posts: 1950
- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:21 pm
Re: Pets in law school
PM'd yaMarionberry wrote:Akili, I know you live in Austin, do you have a vet you like? I don't know why I'm asking since I'm moving in 6 months, but I've been less than impressed the last couple of times I've been to mine.

- joebloe
- Posts: 376
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 6:02 am
Re: Pets in law school
If I end up renting a house with a fenced yard during LS, I might consider a dog.
What's the word on taking your dog to LS classes? I mean presuming it's trained enough to just kinda nap during class.
What's the word on taking your dog to LS classes? I mean presuming it's trained enough to just kinda nap during class.

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Re: Pets in law school
Would love a dog--I do not know if I will have that much time for it. So a parakeet, I have!
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Re: Pets in law school
Don't think that just because you have a yard, your dog will not need as much attention. It is true they won't have any accidents while you are gone but my dog mostly sleeps in the yard. I still need to take him on walks and to the dog park for him to not get depressed. If I have a really busy week and we don't go to the dog park for 4 or 5 days he will literally spend all day laying in the middle of the floor like he is dead and it is the saddest thing ever.
However, if you have a dog park close by that has benches that you can sit at and study while your dog is crazy (and you can concentrate through the dog barking and random strangers trying to make small talk with you even though you are CLEARLY TRYING TO READ A BOOK), they can get a lot of exercise while you study. And everyone wins because you go home having your reading done and your dog thinks you are the most wonderful thing in the world for taking him to this magical place where he can pee everywhere and hunt squirrels with all his best friends.
However, if you have a dog park close by that has benches that you can sit at and study while your dog is crazy (and you can concentrate through the dog barking and random strangers trying to make small talk with you even though you are CLEARLY TRYING TO READ A BOOK), they can get a lot of exercise while you study. And everyone wins because you go home having your reading done and your dog thinks you are the most wonderful thing in the world for taking him to this magical place where he can pee everywhere and hunt squirrels with all his best friends.
- prismz
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2010 12:01 am
Re: Pets in law school
If I stay on this coast, I'll probably bring my sumatran blood python and consider finally setting up an aquariumWVUCelticFan wrote:
I saw mention of reptiles and a cat in the thread too. Any one else with thoughts on non-dog pets?
-
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Re: Pets in law school
I live in NYC, and after overcoming the difficulty of finding a dogfriendly building I've found that it was actually one of the best decisions I've ever made. By the second half of the semester you're working almost non-stop and having a dog provides great companionship. Also, you would be amazed how de-stressing 30 minutes in Central Park/any park can be during finals.
- holdencaulfield
- Posts: 479
- Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:12 pm
Re: Pets in law school
Went to lawschool with a 1 year old golden and got another before my 2L year. Couldn't be happier. I also love doggie daycare, but at 36$/day it's hard to justify more than a few times a month. Lastly, if you get a puppy invest in a Hoover Steamvac (it's the bomb).
http://www.ihasahotdog.com
http://www.ihasahotdog.com
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