MBU Students With Pets

MBU students tell all about the challenges, rewards and quirks of having a pet while attending college.

By COLBY DUNCAN & TAYLOR SCHUSTER

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Samantha Schulze

Bio: Schulze is an MBU women’s soccer alumna and is attending MBU a fifth year to complete her major in exercise science, and a minor in health sciences and physical education.

What’s your dog’s name? Ryder

What type of dog is she? Ryder is a red nose pit bull, maybe a mix but not sure.

How does it feel being a student with a pet? It feels rewarding and a handful at the same time. It’s like having a child that you must attend to after school.

Does she help you out in tough times? I couldn’t tell you how many times Ryder has cheered me up. She knows when I’m upset and she will nestle her head on you.

How much more responsibility is it having a pet? She is a lot of responsibility between school and work. Dogs need constant attention and she needs a run daily.

How and why did you decide to get a pet while in school? It was actually a previous boyfriend’s idea. Best thing I’ve received out of a relationship.

What is the funniest thing your pet does? She will fart, and not know where it came from. The confused look on her is pretty hilarious.

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Rachel Brewer

Bio: Brewer, who is a sophomore at Meramec Community College, is from Cape Girardeau, Mo. Brewer is a part-time student and works part time at Benton Park Cafe.

What’s your cat’s name? Morrie

What type of cat is he? Tabby Cat

How does it feel being a student with a pet? It is nice having a pet whether I’m a student or not. I live on my own, so my cat keeps me company when I’m feeling alone.

Does he help you out in tough times? Yes, my cat has helped me through some tough times emotionally. He seems to be able to pick up on my emotions, and is a very affectionate cat.

How much more responsibility is it having a pet? It’s not that much of a responsibility, I enjoy his company.

How and why did you decide to get a pet while in school? I got Morrie with an ex-boyfriend. We got him because I had been wanting a kitten for awhile. We saw him on Craigslist, and went to pick him up.

What is the funniest thing your pet does? My cat does a lot of funny things. He has a lot of spunk to him. He loves chasing lasers, spinning around on barstools, playing with catnip. He really enjoys hanging out with everyone, and overall is a real friendly guy!

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Morgen Filla

Bio: Filla, who is from St. Louis, is a fifth-year senior pursuing her psychology degree. Filla is the assistant women’s lacrosse coach at MBU.

What’s your cat’s name? Piper

What type of cat is she? Tabby Cat

How does it feel being a student with a pet? Being a student with a pet is not that much different than life without a pet. I had family pets my entire life growing up so the responsibility of caring for a pet was not new to me.

Does she help you out in tough times? Piper definitely helps me out in tough times. She does not always want to show affection when I want her to, like when I am laying on the couch watching TV, but she always greets me at the door when I come home and sleeps next to me at night.

How and why did you decide to get a pet while in school? I got her right after my last season as a senior playing lacrosse for MBU to help fill the lacrosse void in my heart, so I decided to name her Piper after the pipes on a lacrosse goal.

How much more responsibility is it having a pet? My responsibility load has increased somewhat since I adopted my cat because I have to take her to the vet, brush her, feed her, scoop her litter box and make sure she has fresh water every day. She is not very high maintenance and that is why I got a cat over a dog, cats tend to be much more independent and with a busy schedule it works out well.

What is the funniest thing your pet does? Piper does a lot of crazy things. Recently she jumped off my bed and right onto my shoulder unexpectedly while I was brushing my hair. She also will get my roommate’s dog hyped up so the dog is chasing her around the house and then times her turns just right so the dog will run straight into the wall.

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Chase Hamernick

Bio: Hamernick, a junior from Forest Lake, Minn., plays lacrosse. Hamernick is a full-time student and has a part-time job.

What’s your dog’s name? Rook.

What type of dog do you have? Rook is a Corgi Beagle mix.

How does it feel being a student with a pet? It is a great stress reliever when I get home and I have Rook, my dog, there to greet me when I get home. He is always happy to see me and just wants to be around me and my roommates.

Does he help you out in tough times? I would say that he does, because he is there when you need him and he does some weird things that help me forget when things just aren’t going my way.

How and why did you decide to get a pet while in school? I decided this summer that living in an apartment off campus just would not be complete without having a pet. Some of my roommates are allergic to cats and honestly I didn’t want to change a litter box, so I went to a pet adoption day with two of my friends and spotted Rook. After having some time to get to know him and seeing how great of a dog he was I decided on the spot to adopt him and bring him home with me.

How much more responsibility is it having a pet? It is definitely a great deal more responsibility given that I have to be sure when he is fed and gets water as well as making sure that he can get out of the apartment for the bathroom and to just get him to run around. He is a pretty easy-going animal and usually sleeps so it’s not too difficult and it helps having three roommates that can help me take care of him while I am at work.

What is the funniest thing your pet does? The funniest thing that Rook does it scratch his backside on my roommate’s bed frame. Just the methodical motion of it and that strange look he gives you if you catch him in the act is hilarious.

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Alex Hill

Bio: Hill is a junior and this is his first year as an MBU student. He is from Wyoming. He is a current baseball player. He lives with Eichhorn.

What is your pet’s name? Cooper

What kind of pet is it? Lab Beagle mix

How does it feel to be a student having a pet? It’s a lot of responsibility but I like it. Every day it’s fun to have a dog to come home to and he puts a smile on my face so I can’t complain and it’s fun to have him around.

Does your pet help you out in tough times? He does, he is always in a good mood and every time I look at him he puts a smile on my face so that makes it easier.

How and why did you decide to get a pet while you were going to school? I thought it would be a good idea. I wanted to adopt a dog. Taking care of a dog is a rewarding feeling to have. Seeing his happy face always puts me in a better mood, so why not.

How much more responsibility is it having a pet? It is tough to take care of a dog while you’re away at school, but I make time for him and it does make those times where I get to be with him more rewarding.

What is the funniest thing your pet does? Chases his own tail like every dog.

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 Jake Eichhorn

Bio: It is Eichhorn’s fifth year at Missouri Baptist. Eichhorn is from Palm Springs, Calif. He is finished with his baseball eligibility and is now finishing up school.

What is your pet’s name? Maximus

What kind of pet is it? Half lab, half Weimaraner

How does it feel to be a student having a pet? It’s kind of hard because you have to juggle school work and taking care of your pet, walking him.

Does your pet help you out in tough times? Yeah, he keeps me company, he’s fun to play with.

How and why did you decide to get a pet while you were going to school? Seeing how I was done with baseball, I figured I would have more time. I like to take care of pets and seeing how my dog back home passed away I thought I might get another dog.

How much more responsibility is it having a pet? A lot more. It made me prioritize a lot more on what I need to do and what you need to take care of in order to get it done. Made me grow up a lot more.

What is the funniest thing your pet does? He loves to chase his tail, he is just a big old goof ball.

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Marcus Cresentini

Bio: Cresentini is a senior and this is his first year at MBU. He is from Tampa Bay, Fla. He is a current baseball player. He lives with three other baseball players who also help him with his puppy.

What is your pet’s name? Splitter

What kind of pet is it? Beagle

How does it feel to be a student having a pet? It’s a great honor, it’s hard work and since he is 10 weeks it’s like having a little kid.

Does your pet help you out in tough times? Oh yeah, Splitter is just adorable. Splitter makes me happy.

How and why did you decide to get a pet while you were going to school? I like the companionship and I miss my dogs at home.

How much more responsibility is it having a pet? Oh, it’s a huge responsibility because if you don’t take care of your dog he will defecate all over the floor.

What is the funniest thing your pet does? Splitter does the puppy jump with his front paws and it is pretty funny.

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Dave Mullins

Bio: Mullins is a senior in his second year at MBU. He is from St. Louis. He is a current baseball player. He lives on his own.

What is your pet’s name? Wilson

What kind of pet is it? Golden Retriever

How does it feel to be a student having a pet? It’s a lot more work then I expected, but it’s always nice to have something around that doesn’t mind just hanging out with you all the time.

Does your pet help you out in tough times? Yes, I think that it’s the fact that I have something physical around to pet and hold on to. It’s a nurturing feeling that is always nice.

How and why did you decide to get a pet while you were going to school? I always wanted one and it just kind of happened. Someone needed a home for him and I started taking care of him.

How much more responsibility is it having a pet? So much more than I expected, I don’t get to stay out all the time. Basically I have another person to take care of except that person is a furry animal, I gotta be home at night and in the morning every day to feed him, take care of him and let him use the bathroom.

What is the funniest thing your pet does? Overall personality, some days he will be a maniac and some days he just wants to be loved.

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Colby Duncan

Bio: Duncan is a senior in his second year at MBU. He is a current baseball player and writer for MBU timeline.

What is your pet’s name? Brodie

What kind of pet is it? Boxer and German Pointer

How does it feel to be a student having a pet? It’s a good feeling. Brodie is a great dog. He is just easy, which is awesome in my situation.

Does your pet help you out in tough times? Oh, every day. Coming home to Brodie just wanting love is so nice. He just wants to give you love and since I’m not at home as much due to baseball he misses me even more and it’s just nice to come home to.

How and why did you decide to get a pet while you were going to school? Well, I have always thought about it but have not had enough time but since my girlfriend lives here now we can manage. Since Boxers are my girlfriend’s favorite kind of dog and German pointers are my favorite kind of dog we just could not pass up on Brodie.

How much more responsibility is it having a pet? Huge responsibility to say the least, if you don’t spend enough time with them they will be neglected and not be the best dogs and if you don’t discipline them right then they won’t be the best dog either.

What is the funniest thing your pet does? He is really good at grappling around your waist and holding on, he just wants to hold you and love you. He is such a crack-up. Also the way he sleeps is so funny, he sleeps on his back with his legs straight up, it’s so funny.