Pets and selfish people should not be paired up.

I witnessed this abomination when I was in Toronto recently. With the snow flying, an extreme wind chill and a freezing –10 C temperature, a friend and I decided to step into Starbucks to grab a coffee and defrost our faces.

Unfortunately, a dog chained up outside didn’t have the same option. While the owner sipped his latte, the poor pooch pawed at the window in hopes of getting out of the cold.

My friend and I noticed this dog, and I reflected on how I think I’m too selfish to own an animal because I would much rather have the freedom to come and go as I please, rather than having to stay home with a new pet.

A pet comes with responsibilities, including spending a significant portion of your time with your animal, whether it’s at home or elsewhere.

I’m not willing to make the sacrifices, so this is what would probably happen if I owned a pet: “Hey pooch, you sit outside in the freezing cold while I go get my latte and chat with my friends. Oh, and I’m going to be at school during the day, and I’m going out at night, so are you cool with just hanging out by yourself? Don’t worry, alone time is delightful.”

The cruelty in this statement is obvious.

I know there are exceptions to every rule, but in general students should not own pets for multiple reasons.

First of all, pets are expensive. Veterinarian bills, grooming and food don’t come cheap. Pet owners are responsible for making sure their animal is fed and healthy, and if cat food isn’t in the budget, maybe you should wait till it is.

Secondly, living space is often a factor for students because of their transitory living situations. Space and lifestyle are two areas where students may find themselves compromised when considering owning a pet. What are you going to do with your pup when you’re at school or at the bar?

Similarly, there’s also the training factor. Shockingly enough, a brand new puppy generally doesn’t come house trained. I have friends who live in a divided house and for the first three months they had to take their puppy everywhere they went because the dog would bark and soil the house. This meant they couldn’t go to the movies or out to dinner without arranging for a puppy sitter. Sacrifices had to be made, so they spent most of their time at home.

I’ve also noticed many students deciding it’s a great idea to get a shared pet with the rest of their housemates. However, people need to consider who’s going to take the pet on holidays and what’s going to happen once school is over.

Having a pet isn’t a temporary thing — it’s a long-term commitment. Students need to carefully consider whether they’re responsible and stable enough to own a pet.

Ask yourself: are you able to commit the next 10 to 14 years of your life? Maybe you are, but I would argue the majority play the ignorance card and avoid considering these factors when staring into the adorable eyes of a fluffy kitten.

Having a pet as a companion can be a wonderful experience, but if you’re anything like me and can’t spend much time at home, it’s better to wait until after you graduate.

This brings us back to the Starbucks situation. What’s so bad about taking the time to chat with friends over a coffee? Nothing at all. But when you have a pet, sacrifices have to be made, and coffee dates during the bitter cold wintertime might have to be cancelled. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it.