“Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day”
– John Grogan

2018 marks the Pet Sitters International (PSI) 20^th annual event of Take Your Dog To Work Day. First celebrated in 1999, the event attempts to promote dog adoptions while revelling in the great companions dogs make.

But does this event really work? Big companies like Google and Amazon allow dogs in the office, within reason and rules, but is this fair on employees and their pups?

There is a huge emphasis on work environments becoming easily exhausting and stressful.

A dog-friendly office enables three key clear benefits:

1. Helps lower stress
2. Builds a stronger team
3. Keeps people active

Pets in the workplace have been proven to lift moods, lower stress, and even improve productivity, however, preparation has proven to be the key to success.

Companies have been planning and preparing for Take your Dog to Work Day, which has even progressed to Take Your Dog to Work Year.

There are seven sensible guidelines that human resource departments can use to ensure a day of bringing dogs to work can go smoothly:

1. Written consent should be obtained from every office employee.
2. An accurate record of all dogs in the workplace should be kept.
3. Each dog coming to the workplace should be kept on a leash while walking into the building as well as going back outside and should carry an ID tag with the owner’s contact details.
4. Dogs must be clean and well-groomed ahead of their day at work.
5. Dogs should be well socialised i.e. well natured and comfortable around other dogs and people.
6. Each participating employee should bring a ‘Dog Packed Lunch’ which includes treats, toys, water bowl, and food.
7. Each participating employee should also bring appropriate bedding for their dog.

Perhaps with a little planning, New Zealand could adopt this day into workplaces for more than one day a year?

Written by Kim Chance