PETS IN FINLAND

[tyzhao]

Hi,

I'm a student who is about to go for an exchange program in Aalto University, Mikkeli Campus in fall. I was thinking of getting a pet there (a cat, probably a few months old to about a year old), and I was wondering are there any restrictions of foreigner buying pets in Finland, and how much does a cat/cat food typically cost in Finland? Thank you very much for the replies!

TY

[Kutittaa]

No restrictions as far as I know... I had a cat myself...

Pet food is pretty normal I guess. Sorta expensive on a student's pay/income I would say. But I didn't find it any more expensive than in my own country. Lots of choice too. Vets and when/if your pet gets sick is what will really set you back in terms of money.

Just make sure that it's ok with the person/people who own(s) the place that you are living in that you are allowed to have pets.

[rinso]

I'm a student who is about to go for an exchange program

So you probably end up in student housing. Quite often there are restrictions in allowing pets, especially in the housing reserved for short stays (exchange students).

[jahasjahas]

Pets aren't generally allowed in shared student apartments.

What are you planning to do with the cat when you leave?

[tyzhao]

Pets aren't generally allowed in shared student apartments.

What are you planning to do with the cat when you leave?

i'm applying for the single apartment. are there any restrictions on single apartments as well?

well i'll try to bring it back to my home country, otherwise i'll find someone who's willing to take it, or return it to the pet shop. the worst case will be to put it on the streets, but i will only do it as the last resort.

[interleukin]

the worst case will be to put it on the streets, but i will only do it as the last resort.

I´d love it if there was a law to require neutering of people like you.

[jahasjahas]

Please, spend your exchange time a) studying and b) partying. Get a cat when you return home.

Or if you absolutely must have a pet, make sure that you are actually able take it with you, both legally and financially.

Cats and dogs aren't sold in pet shops in Finland, so "returning it" isn't an option. And there are lots of "kittens in need of a good home", so most people looking for a pet won't be that eager to take someone's older cat.

[rinso]

i'm applying for the single apartment.

You can apply all you want, but there is very little chance of getting it.
New students (and as an exchange student you are a newbie) start with a shared apartment often with 2 or 3 others.
Only after a couple of years they qualify for a single apartment.

[Upphew]

the worst case will be to put it on the streets, but i will only do it as the last resort.

Put it to streets where it won't get food, don't have shelter etc. or euthanize... by the way former is offence punishable with fine (in worst cases up to two years of jail).

edit. go to pet some cats here or volunteer to work there.

[tyzhao]

ok. i actually did not think of what to do with the cat after my exchange program ends. that's why i said i might have to put it on the streets because i always believed i'll be able to find another owner, because we do things like these a lot in my home country, and we even have an online forum for it so people can adopt other people's unwanted cats due to whatever reason. like i said, it's only the last resort, and if like some of you have mentioned returning the cat back to the pet shop is not an option, or it will be difficult to find another owner then i would reconsider my plan to buy a cat.

and don't get me wrong. i love cats, and i was so close of adopting a wild cat but my parents denied my request, which is why i would like to get a cat during my exchange cause my parents won't allow me to have one at home.

[tyzhao]

i'm applying for the single apartment.

You can apply all you want, but there is very little chance of getting it.
New students (and as an exchange student you are a newbie) start with a shared apartment often with 2 or 3 others.
Only after a couple of years they qualify for a single apartment.

my school's housing application form asks us to indicate whether we want to stay in single apartment or shared. i wanted to stay in the single apartment because i usually sleep very late and i don't want to disturb other people. perhaps i should ask the university for more information on housing then.

[tyzhao]

the worst case will be to put it on the streets, but i will only do it as the last resort.

Put it to streets where it won't get food, don't have shelter etc. or euthanize... by the way former is offence punishable with fine (in worst cases up to two years of jail).

edit. go to pet some cats here or volunteer to work there.

hi. thanks for the information. i did not know about that.
if finding another owner for my cat is difficult in finland i'll reconsider my plan of buying a cat.

[interleukin]

MIght I suggest an option for you? You could contact HESY (the Helsinki animal shelter) at http://hesy.fi/ and see if they would like help (volunteering) with any of the animals. For example if an animal needs a short-term placement. Then you are really doing the opposite of putting an animal out to the street, you are helping the animals that are already in need.
Another thing you could do to get animal company is offer to take other peoples' dogs out for walks, most people would be happy to get help in tiring out their dog once in a while.

[jahasjahas]

i was so close of adopting a wild cat but my parents denied my request, which is why i would like to get a cat during my exchange cause my parents won't allow me to have one at home.

So, you'd take the cat to your home country and then your parents would force you to give it away?

interleukin: Upphew already linked MESY's site. tyzhao is going to Mikkeli, not Helsinki.

[tyzhao]

MIght I suggest an option for you? You could contact HESY (the Helsinki animal shelter) at http://hesy.fi/ and see if they would like help (volunteering) with any of the animals. For example if an animal needs a short-term placement. Then you are really doing the opposite of putting an animal out to the street, you are helping the animals that are already in need.
Another thing you could do to get animal company is offer to take other peoples' dogs out for walks, most people would be happy to get help in tiring out their dog once in a while.

Hi. Thanks for the information. I have a particular affection towards cats and I'm not really that into dogs. I mean dogs are adorable, but I just like cats more.

I will check out the website and see what I can do. It will be nice if I can get a short term placement for a cat.