Going to college, leaving behind old friends and parents, taking new classes and living in a new place can be a difficult transition.
One thing makes the transition a little easier: a pet.
After a stressful day of class, sometimes a big, sloppy kiss from a dog, or just petting a cat can help.
No on-campus dorm allows animals in the building, but Auburn has plenty of apartments that do.
Shannon Kazek, sophomore in anthropology, has an Australian shepherd/lab mix named Chance, who loves to visit Kiesel Park.
"Chance is about five and a half months old," Kazek said. "He is not hard to take care of at all because I live in a trailer and he can just go out in our yard. He is very obedient and he won't go anywhere. It was really difficult when he was a puppy though, because he was hard to house train, but he hasn't really been too bad about chewing or anything."
Ashley Durand, sophomore in animal sciences, is the owner of a Pomeranian named Kit.
"I named him Kit because he looks like a baby fox, and that's what (baby foxes) are called," Durand said.
Durand has been Kit's owner since Christmas and now lives in The Grove, one of the many pet-friendly apartments around campus. Kit is approximately 8 pounds. He is hypoallergenic, and he does not shed, which makes cleanup a breeze.
Having a small dog, such as a Pomeranian, means having a low maintenance pet.
Durand's roommates help by rotating who takes Kit out for playtime or for a bathroom break.
"The Grove has plenty of room for Kit to run around," Durand said. "Kit can usually go six hours without having to be let out, so he is not hard to balance with class. He is a great companion, and I recommend having a dog in college."
For those who don't live in apartment complexes with ample yard space, Kiesel Park is pet-friendly and offers an off-leash dog area. It is fenced in for dogs to be able to run around and play. The dog area has a playground, obstacle course and waste receptacles to keep the area clean.
Carmen Littleton, junior in marketing, owns a kitten and lives in Ross Park.
"The only hard part is when he runs out the door and I have to chase and find him," Littleton said.
Some pet-friendly apartments near campus include The Reserve, Southern Edge, University Village, Garden District, Creekside, Eagles West and Logan Square.
Auburn also has many veterinary clinics, including East University Veterinary Hospital, Village Veterinary Clinic, and South College Veterinary Clinic.
Local grooming businesses include Groomingdales, For Paws Boutique, Liz's Pet Grooming Salon and many others.
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