I think it’s fair to say that at one time or another all of us have thought of getting a pet or have owned one. At the time it probably seemed like a wonderful idea.

However, clever ideas tend to get shredded up in the shifting gears of reality, and that is when you probably found yourself starting to regret the purchase of your animal friend.

I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to this. Last spring, my roommate and I had the brilliant idea to buy ducklings from Jack’s Farm Supply. We woke up after a night of partying and decided it was time to buy our ducklings.

An hour later we were both proud fathers of two Khaki Campbells. Everything was fine at first, but a few weeks later the first seeds of regret had been sewn into our minds.

In retrospect it was a terrible decision to get pets, especially ducklings that we couldn’t adequately care for. To make a long story short: pets and college students usually don’t mix well (especially ducks).

It doesn’t really matter what type of animal you get, either. Unless you are a responsible college student, it’s probably going to be a waste of time and money, which are two extremely important resources, as I’m sure you know.

I’ve witnessed various acquaintances buy dogs, and in each respective case the situation didn’t work out smoothly. Whether it was because someone couldn’t care for the animal, or if it was an issue with a landlord, it just never seemed to work.

Even if you don’t run into any of these obstacles, there are still other things to consider before buying a pet. Perhaps your roommate is allergic, or one of them simply doesn’t want an animal in the house.

There is also the chance that your animal becomes sick or injured. Would you have the extra finances to care for your pet?

You have to remember pets are like permanent babies. They are cute for a little while, until they soil themselves, puke, whine, etc.

But unlike a baby, no matter how old or smart a pet may be, it will never be able to clean the carpet or make a sandwich for itself. Pets don’t get old and leave the house like babies do.

If you truly want to raise an animal, I would implore you to consider some things before you make a big, messy mistake.

Can you even take care of yourself? If you can’t feed and clothe yourself how are you going to do it for another being?

Are you willing to commit to a relationship that will last anywhere from five to 20 years, or as long as your furry friend survives?

I know I probably sound like your dad right now, but I wish someone could have sat me down and told me these things before bought a duckling.

While some of our peers may have the capacity to care for animal friends, I think a large majority of our student population would be better off owning Chia Pets or Furby’s.