When I came to Iowa State, I left my most prized possessions at home. While I did, and still do, miss them greatly, I’m sure my roommates probably appreciate that I didn’t pack them.

Then again, it would have been a bit difficult to box up a horse.

I think everyone should own at least one pet in his life. They’re the cheapest therapy I could recommend, and the most reliable friends you could ever hope to find.

There have been so many times that I’ve come home from school after a bad day, gone to the barn, and unloaded all of my problems onto my horse. No matter what I’d tell her, how shocking or embarrassing or funny my tales might be, she’d always just stand there, in a silent, understanding, nonjudgmental manner.

Sometimes, she’d turn her head and stare at me with those big, gentle eyes, as if to say, “Hey, what are you complaining about, at least you can poop in private!”

Dogs are probably the next best thing, although they tend to be noisier than their equine counterparts. There’s nothing as soothing as the warmth of a dozing Dachshund curled up on your feet or belly. The cuteness of a playful puppy trying to fetch a ball half his size is guaranteed laughter therapy. And, their (only slightly annoying) “welcome home” yapping as you pull into the driveway is certain to give you a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart.

Besides all of the wholesome, feel-good aspects of pet ownership, there ARE some little life lessons that these furballs can teach. Responsibility is a biggie. I learned this one at a very young age. After flushing innumerable guppies and goldfish, I learned that if you don’t feed something, it dies. This was a very big lesson for a four-year-old.

I also learned that if you don’t exercise your animals, they tend to have a lot of pent-up energy. That’s really not a good thing, especially when they expel that energy by chewing up your history book.

And, after watching several grueling to-the-death battles that would make even Jackie Chan shudder, I discovered that just because two things seem similar (e. g., male beta fish), it doesn’t necessarily guarantee that they’ll get along. This one was reinforced with my last boyfriend.

There is an aura that surrounds animals. Research has shown that petting a cat or dog has a definite calming effect, lowering the blood pressure and soothing the mind. For this reason, pets have been making appearances in many nursing homes, hospitals, and even jails around the country. “Pet Therapy” is becoming a well-reputed aspect of health care, especially for the elderly.

My own great-grandmother had a dog, and she loved it dearly. In fact, when she had a stroke, the only thing she could remember was the dog’s name. Talk about having an impact.

My mom is much the same way. She enjoys spending time at the barn, brushing and talking to the horses. You could also say that she’s a little dog-crazy. When we just had one dog, she treated him like one of the family. When I went away to school, she filled the void by adopting another pooch. Now, she’s in seventh heaven. One dog for each side of her. I think she has a Dachshund fetish.

House pets aren’t the only critters that are guaranteed to bring a smile to an otherwise bleak face. Sometimes, a pig can be as good for someone as a puppy. I have witnessed this firsthand, and it’s incredibly uplifting.

Every year at our county fair, the residents of the nearby retirement home come out for a visit. As they go from barn to barn in their golf carts, the rough feel of a beef’s hip and the high-pitched squeal of cranky swine sparks something inside them, as they recall their own happy days at the farm, or that pony they rode to school, or their own champion boar.

If you want to talk about learning responsibility, just talk to someone that grew up helping their parents on the farm. “Caring for the animals” takes on a whole new meaning when your livelihood depends on them.

I only have one requirement for my next apartment; pets have to be allowed. I’ve thought about smuggling one of my dogs down for a weekend visit, but they’d probably fall off the porch or get stepped on or eaten by a hungry roommate.

I’ve done all that I can to “doggify” my room. I have a couple of “Beanie Baby” Dachshunds, and now, thanks to the “101 Dalmations Basket O’ Puppies” that I got for Christmas, a herd of dalmations has overrun the place. I also have a calendar and mug dedicated to my favorite breed, and an old dog poster from my grandpa’s office is framed and matted above my bed. Pictures of my horses and dogs are scattered around the room as well.

It’s too bad that most college students have such jumbled schedules that it would be hard for them to provide the stability and consistency pets require. The stress relief that they provide would benefit quite a few frazzled learners, and, for some, learning a bit of responsibility wouldn’t hurt, either.

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Holly Benton is a sophomore in animal science from Early.