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More Employers Welcoming Therapy Dogs at Work

Long known as man's best friend, dogs are fast becoming a favorite with employers who realize the animals' value.

One Washington state-based non-profit that brings pets into offices has hosted so-called therapy animal sessions at 20 companies nationwide, MarketWatch reports. Pet Partners cites Google, Aetna, Intel and Farmers Insurance as some companies it has helped.

"Many employees claim this is their favorite benefit offered by employers [and] that they go back to their desks feeling more relaxed, less stressed and more productive," says Annie Peters, president and CEO of Pet Partners. While most of Pet Partners' animals are dogs, they also connect companies with cats, birds, pigs, llamas and baby horses.

About 7% of companies allowed pets in their workplace, according to a 2016 survey from the Society For Human Resource Management. That was up from 4% in 2014.

Amazon has also embraced about 6,000 dogs as part of its workforce in its Seattle's headquarters and proudly touts that "bring-your-dog-to-work day is every day." 

"Having dogs in our workplace is an amazing treat," says Lara Hirschfield, Amazon's "Woof Pack" manager. "They make employees smile, and we're proud this is such a uniquely Amazonian tradition. It's truly ingrained in our company culture. Our employees love bringing their dogs to work and love meeting their co-workers' dogs."

Amazon has devoted a doggie deck on the 17th floor of one of its buildings that includes a fake fire hydrant, poop bags, areas for dogs to relieve themselves, water fountains and space for the dogs to run around. The company also opened a community dog park for employees and their dogs this year.

Demand for therapy dogs at work has reached a high mark, with Billie Smith hearing from employers everyday, according to MarketWatch. Smith is director of The Alliance of Therapy Dogs, based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She has a network of 17,000 dogs nationwide.

Small business owners in North Carolina have long relied on their dog companions to not only make their employees happy, but to bolster business, The News & Observer reports. Doug Diesing, who owns Raleigh-based Seaboard Wind & Tasting Bar, brings Gruner, his 10-year-old Lab mix, with him to work several days a week.

"We've always been dog-friendly," Diesing says. "It's a nice calming effect to have a dog laying around when people are shopping. We let customers bring their dogs in."

Gruner is so popular that he has his own "fan club," and some customers will only stop by when he is at work, Diesing adds.

Spending time with a dog also can lower blood pressure and boost oxytocin, beta-endorphins and dopamine, all tied to feeling pleasure and love, says Brian Hare, founder of the Duke Canine Cognition Center and a professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke.

"Dogs are also affected by their relationship with us, and they can also experience an increase in oxytocin," Hare says. "This would have obvious benefits in the workplace."

For millennials, a coveted workforce demographic, a pet-friendly employer is important, writes Aaron Tandy for the Daily Business Review. In a recent survey, 57% of millennials said they would move to an employer that provided a more pet-friendly environment, he notes.

It is important for employers to create a formal pet-friendly office policy and make sure that policy reflects the input from workers who plan to bring in dogs as well as those who won't, writes Danielle Bernal, staff veterinarian with Wellness Natural Pet Food, and guest writer for Entrepreneur.

"Your policy should outline what types of pets are allowed in the office," Bernal writes. "It should detail how pets will be 'interviewed,' for acceptance (healthy and up to date on vaccinations, trained to some extent — certainly housebroken — and able to get along with other pets and people). Further, the policy should include how behavioral issues, damage to company equipment or non-compliance with the policy will be handled."

Employers who are really gung-ho may even want to include a so-called "paw-ternity" leave benefit. But companies do need to be proactive about creating a policy that addresses numerous issues that may crop up.

"Will pets be allowed in conference rooms and meetings?," Bernal notes. "Are (annoying) squeaky toys a no-go? What supplies will your company provide and what should employees bring on their own? All things that should be included in your policy!"

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