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Take Your Dog to Work Day® Celebrates
Canine Companionship & Adoption
44 AmericanPetMagazine.com
Written by ©Dorothy Wills-Raftery
For pet parents, the hardest part of each day is when it comes time to leave for work and leave the furkids
behind. So, what can make a Friday, the end to a long work week for most, even better? Spending it with your
dog! Whether you work in an office, out on the road, or from home, having your canine companions with you
makes the day much brighter! That’s the concept behind Take Your Dog to Work Day® (TYDTWDay).
This special day, according to takeyourdog.com, was created by Pet Sitters International in 1999 to “celebrate
the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and
breed rescue clubs.” Through this annual event, people who love pets are asked “to celebrate the humane-canine
bond and promote pet adoption by encouraging their employers to support TYDTWDay. “
“Employers are encouraged to open their workplace to employees’ four-legged friends on
this one special day.”
Whether your office welcomes canine companions for an all-day visit or for a designated time, having them
nearby can benefit workers in many ways, including boosting morale, reducing stress, and fostering positive
socialization with other office dog parents, which all translates into happy employees and resulting in increased
work productivity. TYDTWDay also highlights opportunities to showcase shelter dogs and encourages fostering
and adoption.
Holding a TYDTWDay event should be
planned out with your boss and office staff so
everyone is on the same page. Accommodations
for the dogs should be arranged and approved
ahead of time, including a rest area, a location for
walks, a designated bathroom area (don’t forget
the doggy-doo bags), a place for water and food
dishes, and, if possible, it’s also good to consider
having a pet sitter on hand for those hectic
moments during the work day to ensure your
pet’s needs are met and they are kept safe and happy.
Be sure to bring any medications your pet
may need. Please remember to have up-to-date
tags and licenses on your dog’s collar, a current
photo of your dog, and most importantly, be
sure they are microchipped in the event the
unthinkable happens and they slip out that
office door.
Photo: ‘Bandit’ of the FiveSibes really enjoys
spending time in Wills-Raftery’s office, where
she has a bed and some toys to keep her comfy.
Photo by Dorothy Wills-Raftery.
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