I thankfully ignored the naysayers and have two 8-year-old cats i've had since they were kittens. I will have them until 2030 or so.

That said, if you are a 1- or 2-year teacher with no plans of sticking around (and can't take them back home) then BY ALL MEANS adopt an older cat from a shelter, just don't get a kitten with the anticipation of BAILING (unless you are the 10%ish who dedicatedly finds a replacement owner - the f'n' delusion IDEA of most newbies who get kittens and pay pet mills. VERY FEW deliver.

A kitten or puppy should be a decade-long committment. More, probably.

BUt..BUT... to ADOPT AN ADULT cat or dog from a shelter for 1 or 2 years, then ensure they get another 1 or 2 years with a caring person after you leave: that's GREAT!

Go to an animal shelter if you think you will be here for multiple years! Seeing the animals IN NEED will/should make you decide to give one (or two - cuz they need a buddy when you ain't around) a home for a few years! DO IT.

Just please don't give money to the mills of puppies and kittens.

This thread started in 2011 with the following concern, and it remains. You are...

... here on a TEMPORARY BASIS. Dogs and cats live for years. What do you expect to happen to that animal when you leave? Just fob it off on whoever is willing to take it? We all have two big vacations a year where we go off to Thailand or home or Bali or whatever and who do you expect to look after your pet? Pets are not disposable. You may think you're doing the world a favor taking home a little hamster from E-Mart but it's even more cruel when you up and leave in a years time and expect someone else to take it or even worse have it put down because you can't take it with you. Unless you're taking your fluffy Persian back...

Four things:
1.Don't expect others to help.
2. Leave the animals in the cages.
3. Do not support the industry.
4. Volunteer at a shelter if you want.

 (Two of the above i believe,
a third i don't but at sometimes feel have do,
 and the other i certainly in no universe support.)