Sometimes students need a friend. And I’m not just talking about anybody. I’m talking about creature so friendly, you’ll never be lonely again. I’m talking about pets. Castleton State College students don’t just have cats and dogs. There are snakes, fish, rabbits, and other creepy crawlers lurking through the community.

The Regulars

Sunny days can be filled with students walking their four legged friends. One student you
may see is senior Kelly O’Brien walking many dogs, including her personal pal, Bailey.

“I have had Bailey for 12 years, but he has been with me up in VT for the past 3 1/2 years,” said O’Brien.

O’Brien talks about how friendly Bailey is and how happy he is when she walks in from a long day of school. Bad days are forgotten when the big brown dog greets you with a big smile.

“I also love waking up to kisses from his big face,” said O’Brien.

Bailey is very loyal to O’Brien and she talks about how he always needs to know what she is doing. Even if he is whining, she wouldn’t change anything about him.

Erik Ellis, a sophomore, recently acquired a cat from the Rutland Human Society. A pet he just couldn’t be without.

“We went to the Human Society and looked for the goofiest cat. We saw this one cat, it made us laugh, so we had to have it,” said Ellis.

The cat, whose first name is Lolly, also goes by the chronic killa, loopy lopez, and crazy eyes mcgraw.

Ellis likes how the eyes pop out of his cat’s head and how much his cat repeatedly sneezes due to his upper respiratory infection.

“The cat takes life at a leisurely pace,” said Ellis, watching the cat wander from room to room throughout the house.

Ellis is proud of his cat and enjoys how much she has adjusted to the college life. It’s a perfect cat for college students Ellis talks about, explaining how the cat doesn’t need a lot of attention, but when it wants it, she gets it.

The unusal

Pete Lordan, senior, has quite the interesting pet in his apartment. On the floor, against the wall, is an aquarium. At first glance there is nothing there. Lordan removes the lids picks up a rock and there it is. Dante, a python ball.

“I always liked reptiles, but my dad was afraid of snakes,” said Lordan. Once he was on his own he wanted to own reptiles.

Lordan bought Dante about two years ago and said the snake is around five years old. He said the size of the snake is 5-feet and he probably won’t get any longer, but will bulk up.

“He is so simple and doesn’t complain,” said Lordan. Continuing that watching him eat is one of the coolest things he does, considering he doesn’t move around a whole lot.

Lordan talked about why snakes do not move much. Part of the reason being is to conserve as much energy as possible.

Dante rests on his owner’s arms, twisting up in maneuvers that Olympic gymnasts wouldn’t do. Lordan said he always holds his snake when he is out because he tries to sneak into dark areas around the house.

“He’ll weave into the couch and it’s a real pain to get him out,” said Lordan, as he sternly lets Dante know whose the boss.

Lordan always liked reptiles and once had an iguana as well as other reptiles. He then said as long as they have food and water, their happy.

Bradford Waterhouse, a senior, is the proud honor of a furry friend that doesn’t mind a few visits to the occasional vet.