Wednesday, February 4, 2009
When Brittany Vaughn arrives at her apartment after a hectic day of class, she knows who will be at the door to greet her.
Tux, her cat.
“It’s really nice to have a companion,” Vaughn, Overland Park senior, said. “Being in college can be super lonely sometimes. It’s nice to know that he is always there when I get home.”
A March 2008 report published by the Anthrozoos Journal, a member of the American Psychological Association, compared results from participants’ reports of their relationships with pets and relationships with romantic partners. The Web-based survey of 192 pet owners found that relationships with pets were more secure in every aspect and they were a consistent source of attachment security.
Overland Park senior Brittany Vaughn lives with three boys, Michael Mitchelson, Jake Pfannenstiel and the one who doesn’t pay rent, Tuxedo. Vaughn deals with her pet allergies year-round to be able to keep Tuxedo, her 3-year-old black and white cat.
breakbox
What you can expect to pay for your pet
Heartgard Plus for dogs — $35-64 Heartgard chewables for cats — $35 Prices vary by weight
Frontline Plus monthly flea preventative Dogs — $46-163 Cats — $44-162 Prices vary by dose
Cat food — $6-54 Dog food — $8-45
Sources: 1-800-PetMeds, Petco.com
Robin Rowland, director of development at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, said people often spent more time with their pets than with their families. Rowland said pets provided the unconditional love humans yearned for.
“Every time I come home, my dog is leaping in the air for joy,” Rowland said. “Our families are happy to see us, but they don’t have the same physical reaction.”
Maryann Sbezzi, Sacramento, Calif., sophomore, has had her dog, a Shih Tzu named Samantha, for two months. She said her dog helped her through a recent breakup.
“I would have felt lost the whole time I was having problems with my ex,” Sbezzi said. “Even though they can’t talk or give you advice, they are there to comfort you and tell you everything is going to be OK.”
TJ Haynes, Shawnee junior, said his cat, Niko, was considered a member of the family by his parents.
“Whenever I bring my cat home to my parents, they always refer to themselves as the grandparents,” Haynes said.
Haynes said he spent between $80 and $100 each month on his cat and often purchased toys for Niko to play with.
“I give my cat tons of attention,” Haynes said. “He is spoiled rotten.”
Sbezzi said she spent about $200 each month on her dog, which included veterinarian bills. She works two jobs to help pay for the expenses.
“Not only do I work to have spending money to have fun, now I have to save some of that money for my dog,” Sbezzi said. “But I think it is completely worth it to have a lifelong companion.”
Vaughn said she didn’t spend much money on her cat, but she always made sure his needs were taken care of.
“I have to think about him and if he has all the things that he needs before I get the things that I want,” Vaughn said. “In a sense it’s like having a child because you have to take care of something else that is depending on you.”
Rowland and her staff at the Humane Society match pets with people who share similar personalities and lifestyles. She said people bought pets for companionship and reliability.
Simply walking or spending time with a pet releases endorphins and strengthens the bond. Rowland said pets were a lifelong commitment because most people had their pets for 15 to 20 years.
“Most people have their pets longer than they have their cars,” Rowland said.
Vaughn said she treasured the relationship she has with her cat.
“It’s really comforting knowing they are always going to be there,” Vaughn said. “You can make mistakes and do things incorrectly, and they will still love you. They still depend on you.”
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