Taking Dogs to Work

More Companies Allow Pets to Tag Along

Pack up some doggie treats; grab Fido’s leash and dog bed — he’s going to work. Or at least he will be on June 25, 2010—this year’s designated Take Your Dog To Work Day^® (TYDTWD).

Take Your Dog to Work Day Celebrates 10 Years

Created in 1999 by Pet Sitters International, the global leader in pet sitting industry, this ‘bone-a-fide’ holiday showcases the value of dogs in the workplace and encourages adoptions from local shelters, humane societies and rescue groups.

Since TYDTWD’s inception, tens of thousands of organizations have participated in this sociable affair. This year’s event marks TYDTWD’s 10-year anniversary, making this the ideal time to get your organization involved.

Benefits of Pets in the Workplace

It’s a typical day at the office: you have a conference call in an hour you haven’t prepped for; you have a proposal for a major client due at the end of the day and a dozen e-mails to respond to. What’s a person to do? If your organization is participating in TYDTWD, you just reach down, pet Rover and watch the workday blahs melt away.

It’s a fact that in normal situations, having a fuzzy friend around helps people relax and smile. Other benefits of dogs in the workplace include:

• Increased camaraderie and productivity among staff.
• Encourages employees to work longer hours.
• Helps reduce stress.

A recent survey released by the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association of America, a not-for-profit trade association serving the interests of the pet products industry, reports that millions of people believe having pets in the workplace leads to a more creative environment and decreases absenteeism, among other factors.

The benefits don’t stop there; TYDTWD benefits dogs, too. The event introduces your four-legged friend to a new environment, people and experiences, helping make your K9 pal more sociable.

Plus, who doesn’t want to look down and see their furry friend at their side?

Get Involved

Want to get your company involved? Dogfriendly.com, a provider of nationwide city and travel guides for dog owners, lists benefits of dogs in the workplace on their Web site and even outlines guidelines for setting up a pet-friendly policy within your company or organization.

If your business has a strict no-pet policy, you can still observe TYDTWD by holding a fundraiser for your city’s local shelter or rescue, or by simply bringing in a photo of Fido to place on your desk during the day.

For more information, visit Pet Sitters International to register your company for TYDTWD and to download materials.

*The photos shown within this article were taken at VPI Pet Insurance's offices by Crisanta Mecate.

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