Trinity is home to many species of wildlife. From the well-known Trinicats to the ominous foxes and the not-so-rare rat sighting, the Trinity community embraces animal life. While we may see some critters on our late-night walks back from Coates Library or on the way up Cardiac Hill, many animals lie within the walls of our residential halls.
Eva Rangel, sophomore international studies major, has a dorm cat named Jerm. Jerm is an unknown Bengal mix and is a curious and playful cat.
“He always looks like he’s scheming, but I doubt there’s anything going on up there,” Rangel said.
Although Jerm is now an independent furry friend, the training period required much of Rangel’s attention. Rangel adopted Jerm at only eight weeks old and has since nurtured him into the cat he is today.
“I make sure, though, to play with and give him attention until he’s sick of me to make up for all the time that I’m gone during the day,” Rangel said. “I do what I can to keep him happy and healthy.”
While the Trinicats may not be pleased, many students on campus have dogs. Dalex Zenteno, sophomore art and communication double-major, has a dog named Sergeant Pepper, a one-year-old rescue from Mexico. Sgt. Pepper is a mix of many different breeds and has made many friends on campus.
“She cuddles with me every night and loves my suitemates,” Zenteno said. “I enjoy it because I get to meet people wanting to say hi to her.”
Zenteno acknowledges that Pepper may require more attention living in a smaller environment. Zenteno spends hours a day tending to Sgt. Pepper’s needs, but they don’t mind the time, as they want Sgt. Pepper to have a great life.
“I am training her to be a service animal,” Zenteno said. “Meaning I have to be continually working on her training and spending time making sure she is happy while doing so.”
While some students have furry friends who accompany them in their dorms, others may settle for lower-maintenance animals. Juliana Wiehrdt, sophomore biochemistry and molecular biology double-major, chose to get a beta fish as fish tend to require minimal care.
“We give him a new name every week,” Wiehrdt said. “His name this week is Quetzalcoatl.”
Keeping with the theme of aquatic life, some students have less traditional dorm animals. Avery Hill, sophomore business and chemistry double-major, has two aquatic frogs named Wanda and Poof. They are fed twice a week and require minimal care. Hill even gave her suitemates a pair of pet frogs to expand on their aquatic family.
“I chose my frogs because I work at a toy store and we sell them there,” Hill said. “So I thought it would be a fun little addition to my Beze [Residence Hall] suite last year.”
As we move away from our families and our lives become increasingly independent, the comfort dorm pets provide can ultimately relieve many of the anxieties of student life.
