1st Week of Summer: Take your dog to work day

What comes to mind when you think of summer?  For most people, the season brings back a nostalgic feeling of freedom.  Growing up, it was the time you were carefree; no school, no homework, just days of play and three whole months of vacation.  Even as an adult, summer is still the time to slow down, relax a little more, and enjoy your free time a little more.

June 21^st is the official start of summer and Southern California has plenty to offer when it comes to dog-friendly activities.  So why not go try new things, start a tradition, or just enjoy the beautiful weather with your four-legged best friend?

This week, the first day of summer happens to fall on the same day as “Take your dog to work day.”

Take your dog to work day was first celebrated in 1999.  It was created by Pet Sitters International to celebrate great companion dogs and to help encourage their adoption.  If your workplace doesn’t celebrate yet, now is the time to get involved.

The first step to bringing your dog to work is convincing your boss or HR manager to let you do so.  For help in this area, go to the official ‘Take your dog to work Day’ website and download the TYDTWDay Action Pack.  This pack and the website are full of information to share with those in charge, along with ideas to help you plan your first successful TYDTW Day.  It will help you address concerns, such as building codes and co-worker dog allergies, and give you pointers on avoiding problems the day of. 

Another way to convince the boss is by sharing the benefits of celebrating the day.  ‘Take your dog to work day’ provides the unique opportunity to increase community involvement by partnering with a local animal shelter, rescue group, or humane society.  It is also a low-cost perk for employees who may have experienced pay cuts or other decreases in benefits. 

And if those reasons aren’t enough, try sharing some cold, hard facts.  In 2006, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) found that:

• Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. companies allow pets in the workplace.
• 55 million Americans believe having pets in the workplace leads to a more creative environment
• 50 million believe having pets in the workplace helps co-workers get along better
• 38 million believe having pets in the workplace creates a more productive work environment
• 37 million believe having pets in the workplace helps improve the relationship between managers and their employees

Everyone may jump on board or you may have to take baby steps and try again next year.  But even if you are not allowed to bring your dog to work, there are other ways to celebrate at work, like having a fundraiser for a local animal rescue, or a pet photo contest, or dog themed luncheon (with hotdogs and bone-shaped cookies).  For these and other great ideas on how to prep for and celebrate ‘Take your dog to work day’, check out the official website.  Whatever you end up doing, enjoy the first day of summer with you pup!