MARY WISNIEWSKI
Assistant Living Editor
Bella is only four months old but is certainly well developed for her age. Already, she shows interest in males, and white hair covers her entire body. No, she isn’t like Merlin, living life in age reversal. Rather, she is a Maltese who is in her puppy prime.
Junior Tiffany Salnier owns Stella, and together, they live in Woodland Hills. Salnier said Bella enhances her life.
“Life is more complete now,” Salnier said. “My puppy is kind of family.”
And a prized member at that.
“She’s a princess and one of the smartest dogs,” Salnier said. She said Bella knows what she wants and lets one know when she is upset. Bella is both a “fireball and energetic,” she said. “She is a girly girl.”
Bella is not a native Californian nor is Salnier. Both are from St Louis. Bella made the trip to Los Angeles by airplane on Thanksgiving. Their travels helped to bond the two together.
“It’s hard to transition from St. Louis to California,” Salnier said. “She [Bella] is kind of like ‘where is my home?’ I’m the constant thing in her life.”
This doesn’t mean Bella is still adjusting to California life; Salnier said she is quite a ham and dislikes lack of attention. Salnier said Bella likes to know what is going on.
Salnier said Bella’s quirks are loving to lie on people’s stomachs and butts. When Salnier bought Bella, she weighed roughly 1 pound, 8 ounces, and instead of walking, she hopped. Now that she is in California, Bella likes to burrow herself into pillows. Because of these mixed qualities, Salnier said she is like an unique hybrid.
“She’s one-fourth prairie dog, one-fourth dog, one-fourth bunny and one-fourth cat,” Salnier said.
Salnier said she grew up most of her life with a dog and missed one when she first came to school. Now that she lives off campus, she finds having Bella is the perfect addition to her life.
“You want someone to love and be a family member,” she said.
Of course, having a pet means added expenses to a student’s budget. Salnier said the price is doable, although getting Bella was a financial commitment. Bella is a purebred and cost $900, but Salnier knew she wanted her and saved money for her last
summer. Although Bella requires extra time and attention, Salnier said she is worth it.
“The joy she brings me makes up for any money and time spent,” Salnier said.
Salnier is certainly not the only student to own a pet while attending college. Many find an animal’s company comforting while in school.
Sophomore Carleigh Gill is another such student and owns Lola, a French bulldog.
Lola is 9-months old, and together they reside in the Zuma Bay Villas.
Lola is more than a pet to Gill. She’s a support system.
“Lola always cheers me up when I’m stressed out,” Gill said.
Lola’s knack for stress reduction may be due to her fun personality.
“There are so many fun things about her,” Gill said. “She is like another person who will always be here. I’m always having company.”
She also loves food and will eat anything you put near her face, Gill said. This may have led to her dislike for wearing clothes. She is fat, Gill said.
Gill said balancing being both a pet owner and being a student can be challenging when she has to be in class all day.
“She loves people,” Gill said. “When I’m in class all day, it’s hard for her.”
The benefits certainly outweigh any negatives for Gill, and she is not alone. Studies show that pets can be therapeutic, proving apples aren’t the only way to keep apples away.
Delta Society is a non-profit organization that believes in the power of pets as more than just another companion. According to their Web site, animals decrease blood pressure, loneliness and cholesterol and simply contribute to a better psychological well-being.
They aren’t the only organization to believe in animal-assisted therapy.
PAWS/LA is another such organization based in Hollywood whose mission is to exist “to enhance the quality of life of people living with a disabling life-threatening or terminal illness by empowering them to keep and care for their pets,” according to their web site.
They provide many services to their clients free of charge such as veterinary care, grooming and even pet food and supplies. They have more than 17,000 clients.
Director of Special Programs and Housing of PAWS/LA Steve Wayland said some people only have animal support in their lives.
“It’s important that people don’t lose this unconditional love,” Wayland said. He said pets give people health benefits. If a person is sick and has to walk their dog, they get exercise. On a simple level, walking a block each day provides health benefits, he said. Along with just the physical walk, it also provides a person with socialization when others want to chat with the owner about their cute pet.
Wayland is active in helping to make sure people with disabilities don’t get evicted because of their pet. The law allows disabled people to house service animals, which includes the needs for emotional support, he said.
“You shouldn’t have to make a choice between your house and your pet,” he said.
Of course, not everyone likes having pets. Freshman Seth Haynes is an example of one such student. Growing up, his family had a collection of eccentric pets such as fish, eels, a mouse, gerbils, barking tree frogs, lizards, Madagascar cockroaches, and other various animals found in their backyard.
Some of the most interesting pets Haynes had were Bert and Ernie — two piranhas. They are now dead but preserved in Hayne’s refrigerator.
Although Haynes grew up with a bunch of pets, he said he wasn’t attached to them nor is he in want of one now.
For those like Salnier and Gill, animals provide enjoyable company while attending school, and organizations like PAWS/LA helps to ensure people can maintain their pets.
02-22-2007