If you want a companion, I highly recommend you look into adopting a cat. Petfinder.com has lots of pets looking for homes and the adoption fees are quite low.
My cat (rescued & adopted) is coming to dental school with me. He has been with me for seven years now! He's awesome
- he greets me at the door every time I come home
- he follows me around whenever I am home
- he cuddles with me whenever I am chilling
- he goes to the bathroom in his litter box like a civilized animal (unlike some animals that go to the bathroom in the middle of a walk- I kid, I kid dog-owners, just taking a friendly jab at you )
- grooms himself and keeps himself in top shape
- he is extremely low maintenance. I just clean his water fountain once a month, and give him some dry food and a canned food every day
- he is extremely low-cost; I think I spend $1/day on him (including food, treats, medical expenses)
ALSO, cats have longer lifespans than many dogs- mine will easily live to be at least 20....that means I get at least a decade more of his companionship!
Average dog lifespan is 10-13 years in comparison.