Eastern students find that having a pet at school brings a sense of home to their college life. It brings the warmth and happiness, and a playmate that is always going to greet you at the door.

When school ends, however, many of these animals are put to the street to fend for themselves. Abandoned by their owners who can’t take them home, their pet’s safety is not a priority.

This may not have to be the case much longer, thanks to Floyd Trapp who began a new campus RSO for animal safety. While it wasn’t of much interest to students in the spring semester, that is not a reason to leave “man’s best friend” to fight for food with the raccoons.

Instead, the future of the RSO wants to find loving families who will take your unwanted pet. Their goal is to take in animals that have been abandoned. These animals won’t have to hunt for their food, and they won’t be starved for love or affection.

This RSO is going to benefit the campus and its students. For many students who are looking for volunteer experience, there will be opportunities for leadership. It’s also going to benefit the animals who have gone from not being loved to now being loved too much.

The County Animal Rescue & Education Center located in Charleston will work hand-in-hand with the animal rescue and care RSO on campus. C.A.R.E. is an organization that puts animals up for adoption to those families who will give them the affection and love they deserve.

This is a better solution than putting your pet out in the rain and snow. According to the ASPCA website, most strays are lost pets that are not cared for in the right way. In fact, it is estimated by ASPCA that 20 percent of cats are strays.

This may not seem like a large amount to some, but ASPCA estimates there may be as many as 70 million stray animals in the United States. Isn’t that alarming? Having this said, it is estimated that the 20 percent of stray cats account for 14 million of stray animals in the United States.

It makes you stop and think when you see a fragile animal walking the street. It may be that they have run away from their owner.

They may have been dumped along the side of the road. Animal shelters and the new animal safety RSO coming to Eastern’s campus want to help prevent this.

Animals deserve a home, too. If you’re going to abandon your animal, take them to the shelter where they may get a better home.

Sending a dog or cat into the cold could teach them survival, but these domesticated animals need human care. Do the right thing, and give them human compassion.

Jennifer Brown is a senior journalism major. She can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.