Let's Go See Some Animals! My Favorite Creatures in Rochester
Let’s say you like animals. Maybe you have a cat or a dog at home. Maybe something even more exotic. While RIT has a great number of chubby squirrels and hungry sparrows, maybe you’re on the hunt to see something more interesting- or pettable.
No worries, student. There’s always something to pet (or admire from a distance) in the city. Just make sure you’re not trying to pat any wild animals!
Do you like cats? Do you want to spend 30 minutes to an hour with cats? Unless you’re allergic (and maybe even if you are), you’d want to check out this lovely little cat cafe. You and your friends can come in and sit down in a room full of delightful adoptable felines. Play with them using the variety of nearby toys, pet them, and even play games while a cat is on your lap.
The cafe portion comes in when you enter, where you can buy drinks or snacks to keep you satiated while you pet cats. From experience, I would recommend buying something to save for afterwards… Those cats love attention, and you will love giving it to them. Just make sure not to get too attached, since dorms don’t have much space for felines!
Maybe you want to see something more exotic, albeit less pettable (no matter how much I have wistfully gazed through the fence, I cannot pet the wolves). The Seneca Park Zoo makes for an amazing day trip, especially as it can be walked through within a day… unless something is being especially cute. Featuring birds, wolves, snakes, lions and elephants- come get a taste of the exotic and some time off campus. The only downside is that you still cannot pet the animals, although there is a gift shop if you want to take home a pettable replica.
Maybe you don’t want to leave campus at all to see an animal. Maybe you prefer dogs over cats. Look out for RIT’s Bow Wow Wellness events- events where you can pet friendly dogs! Run by RIT’s very own Wellness Collaborative, this event is meant for stress reduction and a chance to meet therapy dogs.
Stressed, or just want to pet a dog? Come see the therapy dogs and feel your stress melt away… and get fur all over your clothes.
Maybe you have a taste for the exotic in terms of pets, not just those (still unpettable) wolves. Maybe you want to learn more about reptiles and why people find them to be such interesting pets. Come to Rochester’s yearly reptile expo, a large event showcasing tons of reptiles and snakes. All animals are pet quality, meaning you won’t have to bring that rattlesnake armor you brought to RIT for some reason. This can be a great way to prepare for your future scaly pet, meet like-minded people, or assist with any fears. The snakes won’t bite you!
This is more of a learning event plus a selling center, so all animals- with some exceptions- will be for sale. Don’t expect to get to hold everything, but there’s usually a chance to ask questions and touch at least one animal. You might not have even known snakes could come in so many colors!
About the author
My name is Elizabeth Sanabria, a New Media Interactive Development major, hailing from Yonkers, New York. My life passions are drawing, writing, and as expected for a RIT student- playing video games. I’m ready to share what RIT and the surrounding Rochester area has to offer for prospective students and newcomers!
