By The Editorial Board

Chances are when you think of family, the first people to come to mind are your parents, siblings and maybe some close friends. For those of us who are pet owners, we also think of our furry, or not so furry friends.

We all love our pets, but there’s more that comes with owning some animals than others. A substantial amount of time and money goes into being a responsible dog owner.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the mean veterinary expenses for households per year for dogs is $410 and $182 for cats. While these statistics aren’t specific to college, the AVMA also said about 38.4% of households in the U.S. own dogs.

Paying for shots, food and emergency veterinarian visits are a part of the reality of being a good dog owner.

Now take into account the time it takes to keep a dog happy and healthy. Walking and playing with your dog, or even just giving them some love can take hours out of your day. If there are two things most college students are short on, it’s time and money.

Not to single anyone out, but you know that friend most of us have with the horribly-behaved pet? The one with the dog who spends most of its time in a kennel, or the cat that somehow hasn’t picked up the whole litter box thing yet.

We often cast those pets as “bad” or “annoying,” and while that may be true, we forget that it’s most likely the owner’s fault and not the pet’s.

The tale of a college kid getting a pet on a whim is as old as time. Sometimes, that decision results in a happy pet/owner relationship. But far too often, a college student gets a dog without considering the commitment and responsibility that comes behind it, and the dog suffers the consequential judgment and resentment from home visitors or roommates.

Remember, when you adopt a pet, you’re not adopting an accessory to show to your friends, or a toy that serves no other purpose than to cure your boredom. You’re taking responsibility for a life, and you should treat that pet as such, especially when it gets hard.

One way to think of adopting a pet is like adding another class to your schedule. If you feel you would have the time and energy to take on another class, chances are you have enough time and energy to be a good pet owner. Just remember that it’s not equivalent to an extra class for this semester alone — it’s a responsibility lasting years.

In addition to thinking of the basic necessities of the pet before adopting, take some of the other factors in your life into account. Additional things like your living situation, budget and schedule are all very important while considering whether or not you can actually give that pet the life it deserves.

It’s not enough to feel like you would be an adequate pet owner, you need to be dedicated to being a great one. If you don’t think you would just be a sufficient pet owner, maybe consider pet sitting or volunteering at the humane society over adoption.

This is not to say you can’t have a pet in college. There is no lack of mental and physical health benefits that come with owning a pet. In addition to those benefits, the nature of college life can make it a great time for you to form an unbreakable bond with your pet.

Pets are family, so make sure you treat them as such.