Although a cure for the lonesome is often desired by many Iowa State students, sometimes choosing a cuddly pet can pose more of a problem than a solution.

With good intentions in mind, students may adopt an animal to help brighten their lives, but what they end up doing may cause more harm than good.

The City of Ames Animal Shelter and Control has problems with college students adopting animals. Extensive paperwork and a 24-hour waiting period help discourage most impulse adopters, but there are still students who think they are ready for this type of commitment, said Lorna Lavender, supervisor for the shelter.

“Even though we have turned down many students, I’m sure some students still get the animals elsewhere, which is very irresponsible,” Lavender said.

There are many pet shops who do not do a background check on clients, including The Ark Pet Shop, in Ames, which sells their kittens to anyone interested, said an employee of The Ark.

Brad Pruess, a junior in agriculture systems technology, owned a kitten for a semester, even though his landlord did not allow animals.

“It was such a pain to keep hiding the cat. It eventually turned out to be a hassle,” Pruess said. Although the landlord never found out about the kitten, Pruess eventually put it up for adoption.

This hassle turns into an even bigger problem because the animals are tossed right back into the system, having a greater chance of being euthanized, Lavender said.

If a landlord does find out about the animal, they will contact the shelter and ask that the animal be taken care of accordingly.

Lavender said there is a noticeable jump in the number of animals at the end of each semester. This jump is blamed mostly on the graduating students or the students who have moved, and cannot provide a home for the animal any longer.

“People need to be better educated about what it really means to adopt an animal,” Lavender said.

If these decisions are carefully considered, it could save a student time and money, as well as the well-being of an animal, she added.

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The Ames shelter suggests some questions that should be thought about before the purchase or adoption of a pet.

* Why do you want the pet?

* Can you afford to support an animal?

* Can you have a pet where you live?

* Who will take care of the pet while you are away?

* Will you be a responsible owner?