At My Work

A Elliot — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 22:13:28 -0500

I took my son to the eye doctor last week and he had his dog behind the counter. It really made my son feel at home. I understand because of health concerns, etc., why people don't want animals at work and at school, but at the same time I think back to how when I was in preschool a vet brought his dog to my school and demonstrated how to brush his teeth. That's was one of the reasons I wanted to be a veterinarian. Plus, I learned all about dental hygiene!
A. Elliot

Take Your Dog to Work Wrap-up (and next year the cat and rabbit, too!)

lauriewrites — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:26:07 -0500

I wanted to follow up on last week's "Take Your Dog to Work Day", but the blogosphere's been a little quiet on the matter, to tell the truth.

This essay by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, came along this week in Time Magazine, though, and illustrated the changing roles for pets when babies come along.

Take your daughter to work day, in April, is a brilliant idea, and I can't wait to take part in it once my little girl is old enough to stop confusing "writer" with "waiter. Take Your Dog to Work Day--June 22--is a cynical copycat that for me confirms this cold truth: in my heart, my daughter and my dog are not equals.

Like the chihuahuas of Madonna and Britney before her (and I seem to recall Rosie, too), Cullen's Basset Hound Hoover was in first place until her baby was born, when immediately, she says, there was no room left for him. She tolerates Hoover now, just barely.

Still, she writes,

A dog's love comes with a lengthy prenup: vet bills when it gets diarrhea; peroxide baths when it gets skunked; low-carb kibble when it gets old and fat. Through rich and poor, sickness and health, waning affection and growing annoyance, he is my dog, and I am his person. And when he turns his googly-eyed gaze up at me, it's clear that we are at least agreed on this matter.

I'm still not going to take him to work.

If you're going to, however, there are some things to consider. The folks at Pampered Puppy and monster.com talked with John Long of Pet Sitters' International to determine some basic guidelines for pets in the office. The monster.com piece indicates that owners "can stay out of the doghouse with this advice."

* Make sure the boss and your coworkers are comfortable with the idea.
* Bring only socialized, quiet, friendly and well-house-trained dogs to work. Leave aggressive, nervous or sick dogs at home.
* Use a leash and/or baby gates to keep your dog inside your cube or other open workplace. "Office hallways cannot become an off-leash dog run," says Kain.
* Dogs must be well-groomed and flea-free.
* Puppy-proof your office. "Make sure wires, poisonous plants, pens, rubber bands, and any choking or chewing hazards are all out of reach," Long advises.
* Create a space for your dog with his own pad, toys and bowls.
* Ask someone to watch and walk your dog if you're away from your desk.

"Pets are wonderful companions," Long says. "But we need to exercise common sense when bringing them to the workplace."

SOURCE: www.monster.com

For a different view of "dogs at work" check out Rachelle Oatman's paintings of a high-powered poodle and another breed I can't identify currently linked by Moira McLaughlin from Dream Dogs Art at her Dog Art Today site.

I'll wind this year's coverage up with a reminder that besides tagging along to watch humans work, many dogs have jobs of their own. Cami, posted courtesy of her person, Tena, is a therapy dog, having passed her Canine Good Citizen test through the AKC.

The Abby Guide is the online presence of a real-life therapy dog who also works as a mascot for the Army. Her site - she's a German Shepherd, too - is geared towards young people to help them learn about the different roles pets can play in their lives and the lives of others.

Members of the Gold Star Service Dog organization work as therapy, canine good citizen, and search and rescue dogs. Dogs and their owners from the Medina, Ohio, chapter had the hopeful and eventually sad task of searching for pregnant mother Jessie Davis this past week. Golden retrievers and other breeds worked as therapy dogs at Ground Zero, including Cody, who just died this month.

Laura Rivera wrote in Newsday,

"What Cody did at Ground Zero was remarkable," said Roy Gross, his owner and chief of the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Workers couldn't speak from the anguish. They would drop to their knees, start petting him and cry. Cody knew he had a job to do."

The ninth annual Take Your Dog to Work Day will take place the Friday after Father's Day in 2008. Its mission of raising awareness of rescue dogs and encouraging their adoption is a year-round need. Pet Sitters International action packs will show you how to meet it.
Laurie White blogs at lauriewrites.

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At My Work

Take Your Dog to Work Wrap-up (and next year the cat and rabbit, too!)