They say people with pets live longer, healthier lives.  And there's nothing better than having your cat curl up with you while you're doing homework, or a dog that greets you when you get home from school.  Pets are great!

But while you're at school, who's taking care of the pets?  Who's walking them and making sure they get their exercise?  Who's feeding and taking them out?  Who's grooming, training, and giving them the attention that you can't give them when you're not home?

While pets are a great idea, everyone isn't ready for the responsibility of being a pet owner.  There's so much more that goes into owning a pet than playing with it.  You must take care of it, or have someone who can, because pets are like kids - they need attention and love all the time.  It's not fair to the pet otherwise.

You can always start small and work your way up to a dog, to see how well you handle the responsibility of a pet.  Don't get a kitten because it's cute.  In a year when the kitten turns into a cat, will you still be as invested as you were?  Are you willing to clean up your puppy's messes when he's housetraining and doesn't quite make it outside on time?

Think through this decision and make one that is best for you and the pet.  If you don't think you're ready for the big commitment of dog duty but you still want a pet, there are other options available to you.  Make sure this is something you can devote the time and energy to because being a good pet owner is a full time job.