Pets at work

[+ friendofsheila]

If I work in an office, I'm really not cool with someone bringing in Fluffy, Fido, or Polly-who-wantsa-cracker (unless it's a modeling agency for pets!).

 

I'm not going to grumble about seeing eye dogs, but I'm a little dubious of "emotional support animals". I could make a case for an escort being an "emotional support aid", couldn't I?

 

(Well, I'm going to brace myself now for people to start telling me how THEIR little angel-kins is SUCH a good baby, that NO ONE would EVER be bothered by THEM being in the office. And watching them put up pictures of Angel-kins, PROVING what a darling he/she is.....)

[+ azdr0710]

like handicapped-parking stickers, I think the "assistance dog" thing, with the identifying vest on the dog and all, has become much abused lately....I believe some entirely able-bodied people have figured out they can bring their much-loved pet with them anywhere if they get the proper credentials.....

 

that being said, I love dogs and don't mind dogs being anywhere I am....when I see a dog while out hiking or walking, I'll always ask the owner if I can say hi to the dog and pet it...others I know cower in fear at even the sight of a dog

[instudiocity]

Are fucking kidding me? I leave my Emotional Support Dog at home ALONE for a hot date with a cute boy...

 

I just have the ESD designation so he can ride in my lap for free on airlines as opposed to $150 as a checked canine.

[+ nycman]

I just have the ESD designation so he can ride in my lap for free on airlines as opposed to $150 as a checked canine.

 

And now you see the problem....

[Electra 225]

PETS DO NOT BELONG IN THE WORKPLACE

 

I spent ten miserable monthis working for a whack-job of an attorney who brought his little dog to work every G*d Damn day. The dog barked at the clients and jumped on them (he thought it was "cute"). The dog piddled on the $25,000.00 copier (and guess who had to clean that up and explain it to the service tech and was blamed for the repair bill??). Don't get me wrong: I love dogs and tolerate cats, but they do not belong in the work place. Now that I am in control of things at a new office (it is now MY show), pets, smoking, and anything less than jacket and tie will get you bounced from my company so fast the door knob won't have a chance to hit you where the good Lord split you.

[Boink]

I am totally fine with any dog of any size, shape or reason coming to my workplace...as long as they make their owners stay home.

[+ purplekow]

I have on occasion brought my dog to work. It is my business and it served my purposes to have the dog there. Most common reason I brought the dog to work was related to health issues, post op care or convenience in taking the dog to the vet during the day. I had one employee leave when she came in on a day she was usually off and was displaced to a different space so the dog could be kept in an enclosed room. She left for the day, and never returned, this after working for me for 7 years. Turns out, she was readily replaceable.

The dog did not have run of the place. He spent most of the day in my office except for lunch break, when we went out for a walk. Clients rarely knew that the dog was there, but on the occasions they found out (usually due to a bit of dog hair on my pants) the most common response was to ask to meet the dog.

So there are businesses in which a dog might be totally inappropriate, there are many others in which a dog would a non-issue.

[gallahadesquire]

I'd like to bring Charlie, aka Prince Charles of Orange, aka The Great Orange Hunter, whose real name is Charlie Cat Sunflower.

He's better behaved than most of my friends, and has but one problem: His fur is VERY thick (trying to reach his neck now is likegrabbing four or five cotton balls).

 

Seriously, a friend at MIT had his dog Cedarwood of Hackasiddik (sp?) at his Bio lab everyday. He laid under the desk (the dog, not my friend) all day, and we'd

go out and play "catch" at lunch time.

 

charie is currently "in repose" on my computer table, and wondering if he should take take a lick of my G&T.

[+ ArVaGuy]

I work for an environmental group and obviously there are a lot of animal lovers in our office. Our office building does not allow pets of any kind on premises. (Service animals are permitted.) The kicker here is our organization owns the building thus we could allow such. However, the primary reason we don't is that some people are allergic to pet dander. One colleague gets a severe reaction.

 

We have had a couple of employees with service dogs over the years. They were allowed to telecommute and all worked out fine.

 

I do take issue with people who take advantage of the service animal designation. This is becoming a real problem in some places. Restaurants are often caught in a bind when somebody tries to claim their Yorkie is a seeing eye dog or the like. Ok, that's an old joke. But my point is that people engaging in such deception are making it difficult for those with legitimate need to be accommodated. That's wrong and inconsiderate not to mention deceitful and selfish.

[instudiocity]

And now you see the problem....

Yeah, two round trips in 10 years is a REAL PROBLEM.

 

As as my aunt said, "Oh, grow-up NYCBABY!"

[+ FreshFluff]

I'm ok with a small, quiet dog at work, but they're distracting if they bark all the time. If it's a fluffy Pomeranian though, I'd be ok with the barking.

 

I'd like to bring Charlie, aka Prince Charles of Orange, aka The Great Orange Hunter, whose real name is Charlie Cat Sunflower.

He's better behaved than most of my friends, and has but one problem: His fur is VERY thick (trying to reach his neck now is likegrabbing four or five cotton balls).

 

Aww, sounds like your guy is all recovered now.

[Newly]

I work at a very dog-friendly company and my dog (he's a retired racing greyhound so he's not small) goes to work with me every day. Like all greyhounds he's quiet, extremely gentle, and doesn't shed much. The way we work it is if you have a private office like I do you can bring your dog in if you want. If you're a cubicle dweller you can bring your dog in, but if anyone around you has issues with the dog you can't. Of course, if the dog is disturbing other employees or disrupting work you can't bring him to work. I actually understand the other point of view about no dogs, but my guy went through hell the four years that he was racing so that a bunch of gamblers could get their jollies so I'm going to do whatever it takes to make the rest of his life be great. I figure we humans owe him.

[bigvalboy]

I work at a very dog-friendly company and my dog (he's a retired racing greyhound so he's not small) goes to work with me every day. Like all greyhounds he's quiet, extremely gentle, and doesn't shed much. The way we work it is if you have a private office like I do you can bring your dog in if you want. If you're a cubicle dweller you can bring your dog in, but if anyone around you has issues with the dog you can't. Of course, if the dog is disturbing other employees or disrupting work you can't bring him to work. I actually understand the other point of view about no dogs, but my guy went through hell the four years that he was racing so that a bunch of gamblers could get their jollies so I'm going to do whatever it takes to make the rest of his life be great. I figure we humans owe him.

 

Kudos to you!!!....I wish you and your guy the best.

[+ FreshFluff]

I work at a very dog-friendly company and my dog (he's a retired racing greyhound so he's not small) goes to work with me every day. Like all greyhounds he's quiet, extremely gentle, and doesn't shed much. The way we work it is if you have a private office like I do you can bring your dog in if you want. If you're a cubicle dweller you can bring your dog in, but if anyone around you has issues with the dog you can't. Of course, if the dog is disturbing other employees or disrupting work you can't bring him to work. I actually understand the other point of view about no dogs, but my guy went through hell the four years that he was racing so that a bunch of gamblers could get their jollies so I'm going to do whatever it takes to make the rest of his life be great. I figure we humans owe him.

 

I'm predisposed to smaller dogs, but your gentle, sweet greyhound sounds wonderful. I'm so sorry he suffered while he was racing, and good for you for making him as happy as possible now.

[Epigonos]

I think this entire issue is nonsense. I simply do not believe that pets should be permitted in the work place. I’m sure pet owner, as a group, love their Fidos and Fluffys but I’m equally sure that some of their co-workers don’t and I don’t see why they should be forced to accept the presence of Fido and Fluffy. I had an American cocker spaniel for thirteen years, I loved her dearly and it damn near killed me when I had to put her to sleep but I NEVER took her to school with me. Here in California pot-bellied pigs have been declared domestic animals. Should workers be permitted to bring them to their place of employment? What about bringing to work ones canary, amazon parrot, hamster, snake, duck and etc., etc., etc.? Where does this nonsense end?

[Bosguy]

I think this entire issue is nonsense. I simply do not believe that pets should be permitted in the work place. I’m sure pet owner, as a group, love their Fidos and Fluffys but I’m equally sure that some of their co-workers don’t and I don’t see why they should be forced to accept the presence of Fido and Fluffy. I had an American cocker spaniel for thirteen years, I loved her dearly and it damn near killed me when I had to put her to sleep but I NEVER took her to school with me. Here in California pot-bellied pigs have been declared domestic animals. Should workers be permitted to bring them to their place of employment? What about bringing to work ones canary, amazon parrot, hamster, snake, duck and etc., etc., etc.? Where does this nonsense end?

 

I agree completely. I am a huge pet lover and advocate, but in, all fairness, to our fellow humans AND to our beloved pets, taking them to work or other activities that are strictly geared for 2-legged beings is not right. The love between the pet, owner, and close circle of friends is , to me, the right thing to do.

 

Boston Bill

[+ Funguy]

I agree completely. I am a huge pet lover and advocate, but in, all fairness, to our fellow humans AND to our beloved pets, taking them to work or other activities that are strictly geared for 2-legged beings is not right. The love between the pet, owner, and close circle of friends is , to me, the right thing to do.

 

Boston Bill

 

I like, even love, most animals much more than I do people. People who have pets (dogs especially) in general (and there go the generalizations) tend to be much nicer, tolerant people than those without.

 

I have two large dogs but I would never even think to inflict them upon others in my office. When they go out with me to the park, on walkies, etc., they always get more attention than I do (damn). I'm even allergic to them but I simply don't care: they are part of me!

[Newly]

It's good to get different opinions, and honestly I see both points of view, although I guess some of you must just about faint when you go to France or Spain and see people with their dogs in restaurants and just about everywhere else. One of the cool things about the US is that you're pretty much free to do what you want in the work place so long as you don't discriminate. Besides allowing people to bring their dogs (for us by the way it has been very positive, we haven't had any of the calamities I was scared of) we are also very generous with paternity leave and a bunch of other benefits, but if you don't like the dogs there's nothing keeping you from finding another job that doesn't allow them. The owner of the company I work for is a huge dog lover and it's his company, so I don't think our policy will change any time soon. I guess the way I see it is I have to deal with people who cover themselves with cologne or perfume, and other things that I personally don't like - but that's the price one pays for living in society, you kind of have to tolerate things in other people.

[+ Funguy]

Just one thing, newtothis: in this economic climate it can be a very difficult thing to find another job so not all people can just up and quit. If you were highly allergic to dog dander the issue wouldn't be quite so simple for you.

[Diverdan]

I am with Electra... I have never permitted animals of any kind in our workplace or in the buildings we own. Many individuals have allergies to dogs and cats so prohibiting all but legitimate seeing eye dogs has always been our motto. Pets on planes are also becoming a nuisance and a hazzard. Recently a young woman repeatedly brought her cat out of its carrier and held it and petted it. After the stewardess reminded her that the cat had to be in the carrier at all times, she said that the next time she saw the cat out of the carrier she would arrange to have the captain speak to her and arrange for her to be arrested when we landed. A large group of passangers around her applauded the stewardess. Needless to say, the cat stayed in the carrier for the balance of the plane. I have seen flight attendants work miracles of reseating in order for folks who are allergic to animals get moved to different seats. Pets belong at home or in the underbelly of the plane, NOT in the passenger cabin.

[Professor Mitch]

Not to complicate matters, but my favorite escort always brings his dog with him when he comes to stay with me (at my insistence), and the dog is always at his place when I visit there. Gives new meaning to pets in the workplace

[Lookin]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yiUZ7H4Pc7c/UsP4cLtFN8I/AAAAAAAAYXQ/d9Pn4RewFnA/s640/The+Weirdest+Photos+of+Inventions++from+Bygone+Eras+(9).jpg

White House secretary Maude Crump brings her pet polecat to work.

No one notices, as Congress is in session just across the Mall.

[tyro]

I must, once again, be odd girl out. I grew up in a household without furry pets, shed nary a tear when the ex took his three cats away, and doubt I will EVER own a pet. Ever.

Needless to say, I don't want to see an animal (other than the very occasional cat in a used bookstore) at any business I frequent.

T

[+ poolboy48220]

I keep making comparisons in my head to "Bring your child to work day". For the first three months of one job my desk was in an "overflow" section near the foosball table. They had organized activities for the kids that day but there's always a few strays, and a couple kids were playing loudly on the table. The mother came by and asked "They're not bothering you, are they?" I was the only one sitting in that area who answered that the were, and I got dirty looks from her for a few months after that.

[Lookin]

I used to have an annoying coworker who brought her dog to work. I often wished the dog would come to work and leave my coworker at home. http://www.boytoy.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif