I’ve been in a bit of a rut lately, feeling under the weather, constantly stress-eating and consistently Googling such search terms as “are hummus and Wheat Thins bad for you?” while shoveling them in my mouth at an alarming rate and contemplating the fact that I’ve never stepped foot in Ping in my two years on this campus (I’m not kidding).
I decided to snap out of it.
Did I go exercise? Nah, I went to go play with puppies.
Every single person on this earth loves puppies. Everyone. What’s better than a tiny baby fuzz ball that loves playing, cuddling and giving smooches? Absolutely nothing.
Animals bring us happiness. It’s a proven fact, my friends. Why do you think our school brings in puppies for us to play with the week before finals when we’re all ready to claw our eyes out on the sixth floor of Alden?
I know that I’m stating the obvious, but I think people forget how easy it is to hop in the car and go play with some pooches at Petland on East State, which is what I did a few days ago with my friends Megan and Lindsay.
For an only child who grew up petless (shout out to my mom and dad), I seriously become an actual puddle when I walk into a pet store. Nothing could put me in a better mood than being engulfed by that woodchip-and-fecal-matter scent, except maybe the exclusion of the rodent section of the store as a whole (I’m not about that hamster life).
After about 15 minutes of deliberation, we settled on a baby beagle and a Shiba Inu. This was the best decision I’ve made since I decided to watch the entire season of Pretty Wild in one sitting. Those little babies were so well-behaved and precious that it took everything in me not to snatch them up and walk right outside.
We decided to ask how much they were, mostly for laughs but partly considering we’d spent a half hour in one of those little playrooms when there were actually families there interested in buying a puppy who weren’t three broke college girls.
$1,500 and $2,000. I passed away and came back to life several times.
Handing those puppies back over was a Herculean effort. I had to row a canoe out of the store through the river of tears I produced. That’s the worst part: realizing that they’re not yours, nor will they ever be yours.
But is snuggling a puppy worth enduring those five minutes of utter despair?
Um, yeah. Seriously, it will make your day. Never underestimate the ability that hanging out with animals has on boosting your mood.
I’ve heard that a lot of people love going home for the sole purpose of seeing their cat or dog. It’s not always the most feasible option but, if you’re feeling down, there’s nothing wrong with trading getting wasted this weekend for spending some quality time with your canine or feline pal (and like, maybe your family or something).
And if Petland puppies or your own animals hold no appeal to you, I’ve also seen plenty of stray cats roaming the stairs behind Bryan Hall. Go chill with them! I’ve never been able to get within a 20-foot radius and they look a bit mangy, but let me know how it goes!
Cortni Dietz is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University and a columnist for The Post. Does your pet cheer you up? Email Cortni at cd509910@ohiou.edu.
