Our Furry Friends

Funny enough, I never had a cat until last year, but I like to believe this cat chose me to make a permanent residence in my life. I had grown up with only dogs, but I have loved every experience of welcoming my furry child, Pumpkin, into my home. Pumpkin was a rescue from the previous city I lived in. I did not go through a traditional adoption process with her, but I easily established care for her in St. Louis. I tremendously alleviate stress by playing with her every day when I get home from school. Along with screaming at me for food, she has also become quite the social butterfly when meeting classmates/friends. I know many classmates who have adopted cats to be their companions, so we have a very loving cat community within the WUSM class.

I adopted my dog about a month before starting medical school and I could not be more happy with my decision. She provides me with so much joy and comfort at home, especially since this is my first time living alone. St. Louis is a really dog-friendly city — Forest Park offers a large space for your dog to get exercise and apartment living is not as cramped as other larger cities. Balancing having a dog with med school has not been difficult. My pup is very low maintenance and I get to spend time with her when we have Zoom classes. 🙂 Overall, having a dog has improved my well-being in med school.

I rescued a dog right at the start of the pandemic and was always a bit nervous about what was to come when I started medical school. However, I can now tell you that it was the best decision I ever made and have no regrets. The curriculum is flexible enough where I have never been worried about leaving him for too long and the Central West End is incredibly dog friendly — many patios to eat at with your pup, local stores which hand out dog treats, dog waste bag stations everywhere, and many groomers/trainers/daycares/dog walkers. My apartment even has a dog park!

Walking my dog through the beautiful Forest Park (rated the #1 city park in the U.S. with over 1,400 acres of land) has been incredibly rewarding for my mental health — there are tons of cool trails, ponds he can swim in, beautiful places to explore, and animals to see, such as deer, foxes, coyotes, and even minks. My dog has also been an easy way to socialize with my peers as many classmates regularly join us for walks, and friends will come over all the time just to cuddle with him! Additionally, having a dog has given me a better sense of routine by reminding me to eat, get out, and recharge. Coming home to a wagging tail, smiley face, and unconditional love will always be a highlight of my day.

Red (my pet beta fish) has been the single greatest part of my time at WashU. With an ever changing schedule and new responsibilities, I rely on his daily pep talk to keep myself motivated and focused. When my eyes get too tired, he reads my Anki cards out loud so I can still study. He even cooks my favorite meals (except for salmon) before exams as a pick me up. I would be lost without him.

Having a rabbit in medical school is fantastic (as is every other aspect of owning a rabbit). Bad day? Rabbit. Great day? Rabbit. Any day? Rabbit. Many do not know that rabbits can be litter box trained, love having space to free-roam, and can be very affectionate. I have two bun babies running around my apartment: Ohana and Gobi. If you ever need some bunny therapy, feel free to reach out to me or your nearest medical student bun parent. We are always happy to show off our perfect pets.