Keeton Yescott | Echo
Taylor has access to a lot of things: late-night donut shops, relatively good Wi-Fi, and bunches of nice people. It would be easy to think we don't need anything else. But about a month into the semester, a lonely feeling can start nagging at our hearts-a feeling that can't be erased, no matter what Taylor offers.
The feeling? It's the absence of animals. If you left your pet at home, being at school with no furry friends can be a huge transition. Before you get too upset about this, I have good news for you! Thanks to Marion Animal Care and Control, it is now possible to rent a pet for a whole day.
Marion Animal Care and Control gives animals a place to live until they are adopted or returned to their owners. The center works hard to keep animals healthy and attended to, but people who volunteer their time to play with the animals are always appreciated.
Most animals at the center are strays or owner surrenders. Interaction with people is great for the health of the animals, and playing with a kitten for the day isn't too bad for people, either. Being with animals is actually proven to help people deal with depression, anxiety and stress.
It's a win-win situation: you get to love on a puppy or a kitten, and they benefit from a day of human interaction. Renting a pet is easy. Just show up at the Care and Control center, located at 1021 E. State Road 18 in Marion, Indiana (about 30 minutes from campus).
They're open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and you can keep your rented pet all day. All the Care and Control center needs from you is a drivers license so they can scan it-to make sure you bring the pet back. It is probably a good thing Taylor doesn't allow animals in the dorms; otherwise, it might be tempting to keep it.
Plenty of students have chosen to take the Marion Animal Care and Control center up on their offer.
"I really missed my puppy, so I went to rent one," senior Taylor Hillegonds said. "The process is super easy, and it really is a pick-me-up. Puppies are the best!"
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