Dog Sitting
Kenzie B., M1
I knew I would miss my dog coming to medical school, so I signed up to dog sit through Rover when I got here in August before school started. I can set a flexible schedule depending on how busy I am or when I want to travel, and extensively vet the dogs who are interested in staying with me. Usually, I do a meet-and-greet with the dogs and owners to make sure it’s a good fit. Since our class schedule is very flexible, I’ve had no issues taking care of the dogs during the day. My friends love when I bring pups to our social events as well! So far, it’s been a great way to get my dog fix, better my mental health, and make a little money!
Having a Dog
Cameron M., M1, and Jiwon Y., M1
My partner and I decided to get a dog the night before my White Coat Ceremony, at the end of my first module of medical school. Was this a good idea? Probably not. Do I regret doing it? Only sometimes. But I like to say that if you’re living without regrets, then you aren’t being bold enough! Jokes aside, what I can say for sure is that being able to come back from a long day of class to a buddy who’s always happy to see you never fails to brighten my day. From one medical student to another, if you’re going to get a dog in medical school, I would seriously consider a few things:
1. Do you have enough time to care for a dog? It’s a lot of time, not just to train a new dog and care for its basic needs, but also just to watch them so they don’t destroy your house. If you’re already struggling to find time just for yourself at the end of the day, I would put a lot of thought into this question.
2. Are you financially stable enough to care for a dog? They’re expensive, not just initially, but also long-term. Vet visits, food, toys, etc. all add up, and it isn’t cheap, so keep that in mind.
3. Will owning a dog severely take away from other areas of your life that you value? Hanging out with friends, studying, and everything in-between gets more difficult when you must consider your canine friend back at home and their needs. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself and your needs first, and only then would I consider adding more onto your plate.
4. Do any of these things even matter cause OH MY GOSH that dog I saw on TikTok today was so cute and I JUST HAVE TO HAVE ONE!
In all seriousness, having a dog in medical school is pretty much exactly what you would expect; it’s a lot of responsibility and a huge time commitment, but if you manage your time well and understand what comes along with it, then the experience will be exactly what you make of it! Having a partner or willing friends helps share the workload, and moving your schedule around is not as hard as one may think. Sure, sometimes I have to go home in-between classes to let the dog out or give up an hour of sleep because they got the zoomies at 6 a.m. (-_-), but at the end of the day, if dog ownership is something you value then it’s all worth it. I hope this helps anyone considering getting a dog as a medical student. Good luck, and enjoy!
PS: My miniature long-haired Dachshund Boomi is sitting on my lap as I write this 🙂
-Cameron M., M1
Nothing beats the heartwarming, joyous feeling of coming home to my dogs greeting me with pure joy on their little faces. I’m unapologetically and deeply obsessed with my pups, and they’ve been such an amazing source of comfort and emotional support during many highs and lows of my life (including medical school). I love that even on days when I’m knee-deep in studying, my dogs give me a reason to take a break, leave the house, and go for a walk. St. Louis is an incredibly dog-friendly city, and there are a ton of restaurants, breweries, and cafés with dog-friendly patios. I’ve also been able to volunteer as a foster with several amazing rescue organizations around city, which is a great way to care for a dog in need for a few weeks at a time.
-Jiwon Y., M1
Having a Pet Fish
Natalia A., M1
Being from Florida, the ocean, everglades, and canals have been a part of my daily life. After moving to the Midwest, I began to miss the comfort of water. To make myself feel better, I got a pet betta fish named Grapefruit (inspired by my love of grapefruit boba)! A fish is an easy and fun pet to have in medical school, and I would definitely recommend it.
Having Cat(s)
Cynthia C., M1, and Truc P., M1
I adopted my cat (Casanova, Cass for short) back in 2020 during the pandemic from the Humane Society in St. Louis, and he’s my favorite little guy (a.k.a. emotional support animal) to have around when I’m studying! I’m super lucky in that he’s friendly with new people and is great about traveling. If you’re worried about being a first-time cat owner, cats are extremely low-maintenance and very easy to take care of, and this is coming from a first-time pet owner! If you’re interested in adoption or fostering, there are several shelters and cat cafes within St. Louis that would love to have you! Several students within the WashU Med community also foster cats, and Catnips, a student group, provides support and volunteer opportunities for cat foster parents and cat lovers.
-Cynthia C., M1
It’s really easy to have cats as a medical student here. The low living expense in St. Louis means I can afford a bigger space for my two cats. If you’re looking to adopt, fostering is a great way to help the community and bond with your potential forever cats; all up-to-date vet care is included in a reasonable adoption fee. There are several shelters close by as well as cat cafes where my friend adopted her cat.
-Truc P., M1