Let us face it: dorm life can get pretty lonely. Even with roommates, college is a new place, and any piece of home we can cling to is oftentimes a saving grace in this brand-new environment. For most of us, this probably means having some picture frames, a blanket or a stuffed animal army overtaking your bed. However for a few people on campus, their piece of home comes in the form of a fuzzy companion. If you are looking to get to know the animals on campus, you are in luck, because I am here to introduce you to three Lewis & Clark students and their very special cats.
First on the list we have Brighie Hogan ’27 and Pie. Hogan is a junior living in Holmes with her 13-year-old green eyed calico cat named Pie. Pie has followed Hogan from place to place throughout college, and has lived on campus on and off in trial periods since being certified as an emotional support animal. Pie has had some difficult health issues over the past two years that have made being away from her person hard, which was part of Hogan’s decision to get her certified. These issues disappeared as soon as she went back to living with Hogan long term and consistently. Now, Pie is healthy and happy living as a dorm cat!
Pie is a sleepy girl, but she will occasionally experience bouts of zoomies and is a very cuddly cat once she warms up to strangers. Initially she was very hesitant about getting near me after we were introduced, but she did seem to come out of her shell a bit eventually and even took a treat from my hand. Pie’s favorite pastimes are playing with hair ties and watching bird livestreams Hogan puts on the TV for her.
“I have to put them on every time I leave, otherwise I worry about her getting too bored!” Hogan said.
Hogan’s love and dedication for Pie is clear, and Pie’s loyalty to her mama is distinct when I look at how healthy and happy she is living with her now. Their bond is exceptional, unlike any I have seen, and it is so sweet to see an older cat still acting like a kitten in the hands of a capable and loving owner. You can follow Pie on Instagram @sliceofpie33.
Next I took a short trip west to Hartzfeld in order to visit Sarah Jabbarnia ’28, who has a beautiful 4-year-old Siamese cat named Evelyn. Although she hid a bit less than Pie, Evelyn was still fairly hesitant and shy. During our interview, Jabbarnia shared a bit of her experience bringing Evelyn to school with her:
“She takes a while to warm up to people. I didn’t have her here with me the first semester of my freshman year and she slept in my room the entire time I was gone. So, second semester, I decided to certify her as an emotional support animal and bring her up.”
Evelyn lives a very happy and full life now alongside Jabbarnia and has lots of toys and treats to fill her time. Jabbarnia remembers seeing other students’ service animals while living in Platt last year.
“There were at least three cats that I remember seeing, it was so great to live in such an animal-friendly environment,” Jabbarnia said.
Evelyn was very patient with me and even seemed to pose while I took her picture. It was a great pleasure to see Evelyn and Jabbarnia’s clear connection to each other and to get to pay a visit to this beautiful feline.
Last but certainly not least, I traveled to Copeland to visit Madison Martin ’29 and her sassy, explorative 6-year-old orange tabby, Snuffy. Martin and Snuffy come from a large family full of other animals in Oakland, California, which Martin says was part of the reason she decided to certify him and take him with her to college.
“He’s a runt, and he’s bullied a lot by the other cats at home, so he always takes comfort with me and I knew being without me would be hard for me,” Martin said. “I’ve definitely become more of his person since we’ve come to college.”
Snuffy is very food oriented, and his favorite human food is raspberries. He has lots of toys scattered around the room and was quite excited to show his favorite ones off to me. Being a curious cat, he does sometimes try to dart out the door, but ultimately he knows that home is where Martin is. He always stays by her side or meows at the door waiting for her to get back. Snuffy may be a bit of a trouble maker sometimes, but it is clear that he loves his owner, and they keep each other company and provide comfort in a lovely way.
Although most of us do not have the need for an emotional support animal, it can be a comfort to remember that these beautiful creatures are not too far away. If you are lucky, maybe you will catch a glimpse of Snuffy in his favorite window spot or see Pie watching her birds on your morning walk to class!
If you have a special pet that you have a connection to and are struggling without, you might just be able to certify them and bring them to campus someday yourself! The US Service Animals website can help you get started in finding out whether your best furry friend is eligible for certification.
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