Community Corner
Businesses To Celebrate 'Take Your Dog to Work Day'
Companies will acknowledge dog companionship in the workplace on Friday, June 24
Dogs will leave their pawprints on local businesses during the 13th annual Take Your Dog to Work Day on Friday.
Created in 1999 by Pet Sitters International, this event recognizes dogs as human companions and endorses pet adoption, said Beth Stultz, Pet Sitters marketing manager.
According to the event’s website – takeyourdog.com – the celebration occurs the Friday following Father’s Day. Thousands of businesses nationwide now participate, compared with about 200 registrants in 1999, Stultz said via email. But she could not estimate this year’s number of participants because more and more companies are signing up annually, she said.
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“They enjoy it so much they tend to want to make it an annual event,” Stultz said.
Businesses often organize workplace activities, such as “doggie luaus” or “owner-pet look-alike contests,” said Stultz, who is also the event spokesperson. Pet Sitters provides a company “action pack” on takeyourdog.com that offers ideas for celebrating the day.
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Bringing dogs to work is a “great icebreaker” that builds employee “camaraderie,” Stultz said. Furthermore, when individuals without pets watch co-workers interacting with their dogs, they will feel led to adopt pets too, she said.
“The hope is that they’ll be encouraged to adopt a pet of their own,” Stultz said.
Some businesses raise money for local pet shelters through fundraisers such as hot dog luncheons. Fundraising helps the companies build external relationships, Stultz said.
Pets carry workplace benefits, she added, because owners are normally “more active.” According to a 2006 survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association posted on the Pet Sitters website, 55 million Americans believe a workplace with pets fosters greater creativity, and 38 million believe it increases work productivity.
“Dogs play a special role in our lives,” Stultz said.
Pet Sitters is promoting the event with the help of Veterinary Pet Insurance, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Dog Fancy Magazine, and Adopt-A-Pet.com.
