Working K9 to 5

Step aside Casual Fridays and TGIF; there’s another way to celebrate the end of the work week: Take Your Dog to Work Day (TYDTWD). Now in its ninth year, the annual event seeks to celebrate the special bond we share with our canine companions by bringing them to work with us one day each year. This year’s festivities take place on Friday, June 22. And I thought that a big box of Dunkin’ donuts in the break room on Friday was going to be the highlight of my week.

I personally think it’s a swell idea to bring your dog to work. Think of all the advantages:  your child would no longer be able to blame Bowser for eating his homework; after all, he was at the office with you. There would be no more “accidents” on the living room carpet; you’d be able to take your Poodle for a piddle several times during the day. And your anxious Akita would no longer trash the house; instead, he’d be contentedly curled up in your cubicle.

There are plenty of occupations that lend themselves well to having dogs in the workplace. Who hasn’t heard of a fire station without a Dalmatian or two? Or how about police officers and their hard-working canine counterparts? And, of course, we’ve all known service dogs who make life more manageable for the disabled.

Now that I think about it, though, there are probably plenty of workplaces where dogs wouldn’t be welcome. For one, how about in the operating room of a brain surgeon? I can hear the conversation now: “Nurse, can you hand me a……Spot, no, that’s not something to eat!” That unintentional lobotomy would be hard to explain.

Or how about going underwater with a deep sea diver? Granted, a dog may be adept at doing the dog paddle, but I don’t think they make oxygen masks small enough to fit over his muzzle. Besides, it wouldn’t be pretty if he ended up with a case of the bends.

Then there’s the tattoo parlor. What would happen if the artist were painstakingly etching the name Minny into the fleshy arm of his crotchety client when the resident dog accidentally bumped his arm? “Minny” might very well turn into “Vinny.” That can’t be good for business.

And let’s not forget the ritzy restaurant. While I could really enjoy dining alongside a Doberman named Duke, there are those who would turn up their noses at the idea. They would keep mentioning something about fleas and inappropriate elimination. Details, details.

In all seriousness, TYDTWD’s goal is not only to highlight the special relationship we share with our dogs, but seeks to bring attention to the pet overpopulation problem as well. “Take Your Dog to Work Day works because it confronts the realities of pet overpopulation in a positive and proactive way,” says Patti Moran, president of Pet Sitters International and the event’s creator. “It also encourages employers to experience the value of pets in the workplace, even if just for one day. Ultimately, it’s about encouraging pet adoptions from shelters, humane societies and rescue groups.”

TYDTWD allows you and your pooch to lick the boardroom blahs and turn your otherwise dull day into one that is exciting and entertaining. So get out there this Friday and enjoy TGIF—Thank God It’s Fido—with your four-legged friend. Just don’t forget to bring the donuts.

 

Are you planning to take your dog to work this Friday? Let Karen know about it by sending her an email message at karenleestevens@cox.net. You can also download a Take Your Dog to Work Day action pack from www.petsit.com.

---

By Karen Lee Stevens,
Founder & President, ALL FOR ANIMALS, Inc.
Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

---

Return to Karen Lee's Home Page
Return to the ALL FOR ANIMALS Home Page