The Pet Profiles of Dilworth – Part 1
Meet Oreo!
I got the chance to interview his owner, Caz, in their dorm about the process of getting and living with an on-campus emotional support animal (ESA).
Q: How would you describe the process of getting your ESA approved?
A: The process was all about getting approval from the school, which you need a letter from your therapist or someone similar to do. It was weird for me, working a summer job at a camp at the time while trying to get all my paperwork in! In general, the process is easy enough, but there’s still some back and forth. For me especially, it was more a question of taking on the responsibility of having Oreo with me in the dorm. I needed to figure out how he would react to being in a confined space for so long, and also how to take care of him. Me and my therapist did realize it would be best to bring him, and I’m super glad I did.
Q: How long have you had your ESA?
A: Oreo has been my ESA for one year, but I’ve had him for eight years. He was actually a stray on our apartment step that we found and decided to take in! But yeah, he’s nine years old now.
Q: Did your ESA go through any kind of training to be taken on campus?
A: Fun fact, ESAs actually don’t need any special training! Oreo is certified to be my ESA. I had to see how he would react to being in different spaces, like how he would act at my grandparents’ house – especially if he got the zoomies. Seeing how he reacted to other spaces helped figuring out how he would act being in the dorm.
Q: How has your ESA adapted to life on campus?
A: Back home, Oreo always liked sleeping in beds, but not with people. That’s changed a little bit now. He also likes to hang out by the window, looking outside, and also by the A/C. Whenever he gets the zoomies, it’s a bit different being in the dorm, and same with whenever he wants to explore. When he has that energy, I’ll usually play with him, like with a ball of yarn. Pretty often, he gets into moods where he craves attention for sure.
Q: What does an average day with you and your ESA look like?
A: When I wake up, he’s usually sitting at my feet until I get up. Then he demands a bit of attention before I leave for work or class, and as far as I know, once I leave he goes under the blankets and goes back to sleep. When I come home, Oreo likes to come out and say hi, and demand more of my attention when I get ready for bed. Then he falls asleep again at the foot of the bed.
Q: How has your roommate adapted to your ESA?
A: One of my main concerns with having Oreo here was how my roommate would feel. Actually, the first conversation me and my roommate had after being matched was how they felt about having a cat in the dorm, like seeing if we were on the same page there. And I think the biggest concern there was like, how would the smell be, like with the litter box. Which is a valid concern! I use cat-safe essential oils to help deal with it, as regular oils can actually be dangerous to cats. That’s one of the main adaptations I’ve had to do.
Q: How has your ESA improved your life on campus/as a college student?
A: Because I’m from Florida, I always know that I’m really far from home, and I don’t have too many things from home over here. I was always pretty close with my mum and sister at home, so because I don’t have them here, having Oreo is really great. I’m super thankful for him, and the emotional connection I have with him. Like at night, when he’ll sit between my legs and I feel him purr, it’s super comforting and lovely to have him there.
A special thank you to Caz for answering my questions, and to Oreo, for posing so nicely for his picture!
