Many students at Hamburg Area High School own at least a pet, and they do not have much time during the day to play with them over the school year. However, when the school year ends, many students get a chance to spend more time with their pets. Some pets may have entirely different needs that the outdoors can fulfill, and others just need more time out of their small enclosed environments.
Sheila Kern, a Sophomore at Hamburg, has a couple dogs. She typically takes her Chihuahua named Kyle to the lake and to dog parks over her summers, letting her be outside in the sun while having fun with her pets. She says “I remember taking Kyle to the lake one year, and he was so interested in the bobber that we took the hook off and let him play fetch with the bobber.”
Zach Spatz, a Junior, has five geckos, and he plans on taking his geckos out to the hot sand in his backyard sand pit over the summer, since they are used to hot, sandy days.
Joshua Castro has 15 parakeets. Over the summer, Josh plans to let them fly around inside.
Riley Mohn, a Junior, has a dog named Sherlock. In the past, she was able to take him on hiking trips with them, like the time she went to the Salt Springs State Park.
Ellie Houptley, a Junior, has a German Shepherd named Leo, and they say “I give Leo a long bath over the summer, and we usually go to the cabin and play fetch.”
Summer is all about spending as much time outside in the warmth instead of being cooped up inside. Having a pet truly allows some people to get out of their houses much more than they normally would.
