When Ashleigh Kaspszak packed her bags to transfer to UCLA, she had to stow some items less common to the average student, because she didn’t move alone ““ she moved with her two pet Chihuahuas.
Kaspszak, a third-year anthropology student, is part of a small community of UCLA student pet owners.
Her Chihuahuas, named Gus and Dani, require some sacrifices, but they are ultimately worth the extra work, she said.
Owning a pet as a full-time student requires one thing, Kaspszak said ““ discipline.
“As far as the daily maintenance (of owning pets), it’s not too bad, you just have to be disciplined enough to walk them five times a day,” she said. “And as long as you’re disciplined, you just have to cope with the long-term aspects that can be a bit more straining.”
Kaspszak said it is important to walk her pets several times throughout the day, since her apartment is fairly small.
There are many challenges to owning a pet as a student, including paying for medical problems, tending to yearly checkups and shots that must be taken, and daily expenses like food and grooming, Kaspszak said.
But ultimately, having her pets with her at school are worth the extra responsibility, she said.
“I kind of put (my Chihuahuas) above my other priorities,” Kaspszak said.
Eliza Gerland, a third-year English student, also has her pet at UCLA.
Gerland, who has a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Levi, has learned that there are some challenges that come with keeping a pet at school.
“Sometimes it is challenging (having a pet), especially during finals week when I’m trying to study and get my extra study hours in,” Gerland said. “I’m in school more, and therefore leaving him home a lot more, which isn’t great because dogs need a lot of room to run around and play.”
But Gerland’s typical schedule ““ when she doesn’t have finals ““ allows her plenty of time to tend to her corgi, she said.
The biggest challenge she has come across is finding an apartment in Westwood that permits pets.
“In Westwood, you’re in small apartments, and it’s hard to find housing that will even allow a dog,” she said. “He doesn’t get a lot of time to run around.”
Gerland previously lived south of Wilshire Boulevard, she said, in an apartment that allowed dogs. But the cost was too high ““ almost $1,000 more than it costs to live in The North Village.
Not only was the rent higher, but Gerland had to pay a $500 deposit and $50 per month to pay for her pets to stay there, she said.
Now, she lives on Strathmore Drive and Landfair Avenue. She pays less rent, but Levi is not technically permitted to live in her apartment, she said.
Gerland has to keep Levi a secret.
And even though Gerland would have liked to live in the dorms, she quickly learned that pets are not allowed on the Hill.
According to the on-campus housing regulations handbook, students may not bring or maintain pets in residence halls except fish in small tanks that do not exceed 10 gallons.
Matt Runyan, a first-year civil engineering student who lives in Hedrick, has taken advantage of the fish exception.
“My roommates and I combined money to buy him,” Runyan said. “We split the cost ““ he’s a $10 goldfish … and we all work together to take care of him.”
The biggest challenge of owning a pet in the dorms is taking him home during the holidays, Runyan said.
“For holidays, I have to take him home, and since I can’t drive, I take him on the train and on the bus,” Runyan said. “So he’s gotten a feel for public transportation in L.A.”
But despite the Hill’s strict policy on pet ownership, dogs are still allowed on campus, Gerland said.
“Campus is one of the only open places in Westwood that you’re allowed to take your dog,” she said. “And it’s perfect because it’s so grassy and widespread.”
But Gerland said when she is on campus, there aren’t often a lot of pets around. She said it would be nice to know more pet owners.
Kaspszak also said she is interested in meeting more students at UCLA who own pets. She even joined a club to try and meet fellow pet owners.
“I just joined the Chihuahua club of Los Angeles,” she said. “It’s 500 people in L.A. County who meet once a month.”
The closest Kaspszak has gotten to meeting Bruins with pets is in class, she said. “I’ve seen people sneak their pets in class,” she said. “You can get pet backpacks and the professors don’t seem to care or notice as long as the dog doesn’t bark.”
But for now, Kaspszak said, she’ll stick to walking Gus and Dani around her apartment, she said.
“Sometimes they can get feisty,” she said. “I’m not sure they’re ready for class time.”