Pets are a staple for many people’s lives. From cats to dogs to lizards, those who have had a pet have found some comfort and safety from them. For first-year Japanese major Natalie DiPietrae, there’s something special about her pet.
Eclipse, DiPietrae’s bunny, also brings comfort to her owner: “Cre She’s really here for both my and even her own personal stability. Like me, she’s actually pretty anxious and honestly struggles without me, so she’s not just here for my benefit. Anytime I need a break, I tend to turn to her and spend time with her in my room. She’s very near and dear to my heart, and I couldn’t imagine being here without her,” DiPietrae said.
DiPietrae got Eclipse four years ago as a rescue.“My family and I actually rescued her from our family vet, who had this rabbit with a broken foot her previous owners had abandoned a year prior,” DiPietrae said. “She was pretty anxious and not really trusting of people, but we came in to meet her, and she almost immediately bonded with me, so we took her home. Four years later, and she’s a lot happier, and I’m still pretty much the only person she really trusts in full.”
Moving into college, especially as a first year, has its challenges. Eclipse wasn’t too good with change. “The first few days took a while for her to get her out of her cage, but she has been a lot better. If anything, she’s become a lot more brazen with me. As soon as she senses people, even opening the door, she’ll come right over and expect you to pet her or give her something. She’s even memorized the sound of my jars/fridge opening and expects a treat from that,” DiPietrae said.
When asked about how DiPietrae balances taking care of Eclipse but also focusing on her schoolwork, DiPietrae said, “My college routine is pretty similar to my one in high school (I did mostly cyber), so it’s hard to pinpoint a specific “balance” when I’ve really had it for a while now. I tend to her needs every night (making sure she has her food/water/etc.) and I clean her over the weekend as part of my weekly reset. I also have a light schedule class-wise, so I don’t really have to worry about not having a lot of time to sit with her. I try to sit and play with her for at least a few minutes every night, usually as I wind down after the day.”
At the end of the day, our pets need us as much as we need them. Just like how Eclipse needs DiPietrae. We may not even realize how much our pets depend on us as caretakers. If you or someone you know has a pet, either on-campus or off, and would like to be included in the Etownian, email the Campus Life Editor (campuslife@etown.edu) with your name!
