Tomorrow is Animal Therapy Day, which brings me to the first thing I noticed when I started my new job.
Thinking I was a courier, no doubt, my arrival was greeted by a chorus of barks, followed by the obligatory sniffing and tail-wagging. And that was before the dogs appeared! It didn't take long for me to get used to a canine presence in the break room and at my desk during lunch, especially when meaty leftovers are on the menu. Indeed, I've found that having dogs around makes for a mellower, friendlier office environment.
It would appear I'm on to something. Today, the in-app advertisers at Addictive Mobility are joining forces with the Therapeutic Paws of Canada non-profit to raise awareness for animal therapy by bringing a pack of therapy dogs to various media offices across Toronto. I'm told these pooches help relieve stress, which will come in handy in most newsrooms, with TPOC typically focusing on helping children and seniors overcome challenges ranging from surgery recovery to depression.
I've haven't required surgery since starting my job (knock on wood), and haven't been depressed (what with all the dogs around). Higher office productivity and morale have also been attributed to dog-friendly policies, but I can't speak from experience on those two counts (being such an annoying chipper superstar already). But having toiled in pro-dog and no-dog offices, I'm qualified to explore the benefits and drawbacks of canines at work:
PRO: Staff don't need to hire dog walkers.
CON: Out-of-work dog walkers turn to street miming.
PRO: Office "dog people" bond easily.
CON: Possible brawl with office cat fanciers.
PRO: Instant spill and crumb cleanup.
CON: Canine swarming of clumsy co-workers.
PRO: Less backyard scooping at home.
CON: The office groundskeeper hates you.
PRO: Improved relationship with the mail carrier on your street.
CON: The office couriers hate you.
PRO: Higher company morale means less butt-kissing.
CON: More butt sniffing.
This is an incomplete list, to be sure. If you work in a dog-friendly office, or long to do so, feel free to add some pros and cons in the comments below.
Thinking I was a courier, no doubt, my arrival was greeted by a chorus of barks, followed by the obligatory sniffing and tail-wagging. And that was before the dogs appeared! It didn't take long for me to get used to a canine presence in the break room and at my desk during lunch, especially when meaty leftovers are on the menu. Indeed, I've found that having dogs around makes for a mellower, friendlier office environment.
It would appear I'm on to something. Today, the in-app advertisers at Addictive Mobility are joining forces with the Therapeutic Paws of Canada non-profit to raise awareness for animal therapy by bringing a pack of therapy dogs to various media offices across Toronto. I'm told these pooches help relieve stress, which will come in handy in most newsrooms, with TPOC typically focusing on helping children and seniors overcome challenges ranging from surgery recovery to depression.
I've haven't required surgery since starting my job (knock on wood), and haven't been depressed (what with all the dogs around). Higher office productivity and morale have also been attributed to dog-friendly policies, but I can't speak from experience on those two counts (being such an annoying chipper superstar already). But having toiled in pro-dog and no-dog offices, I'm qualified to explore the benefits and drawbacks of canines at work:
PRO: Staff don't need to hire dog walkers.
CON: Out-of-work dog walkers turn to street miming.
PRO: Office "dog people" bond easily.
CON: Possible brawl with office cat fanciers.
PRO: Instant spill and crumb cleanup.
CON: Canine swarming of clumsy co-workers.
PRO: Less backyard scooping at home.
CON: The office groundskeeper hates you.
PRO: Improved relationship with the mail carrier on your street.
CON: The office couriers hate you.
PRO: Higher company morale means less butt-kissing.
CON: More butt sniffing.
This is an incomplete list, to be sure. If you work in a dog-friendly office, or long to do so, feel free to add some pros and cons in the comments below.