Don't you have anything better to do?
I love my pets and miss them plenty when I travel. Several months back I wrote about the pain of putting my old dog to sleep. I still think of her.
But for the life of me, I can't understand the mutiny in Davie over Take Your Pet to Work Day. I didn't even know such a day existed, but it just goes to show how we've gone off the deep end on a day for this and a day for that and equal rights and mainstreaming etc. etc.
They're pets, not people, for crying out loud. Unless they're seeing eye dogs, I really don't want them in the office. Let's stop humanizing these poor animals. In the office, are they learning something? Will they grow up to work as a pharmacist, journalist or teacher?
That, after all, is the original intent of signaling out a day.
But for the life of me, I can't understand the mutiny in Davie over Take Your Pet to Work Day. I didn't even know such a day existed, but it just goes to show how we've gone off the deep end on a day for this and a day for that and equal rights and mainstreaming etc. etc.
They're pets, not people, for crying out loud. Unless they're seeing eye dogs, I really don't want them in the office. Let's stop humanizing these poor animals. In the office, are they learning something? Will they grow up to work as a pharmacist, journalist or teacher?
That, after all, is the original intent of signaling out a day.
posted by Ana Veciana-Suarez at 9:18 AM
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3 Comments:
In reading the story linking to this blog entry, I think the lame-wad (yeah...I said it) excuses for not participating in "Take Your Dog To Work Day" are laughable.
Hygiene? People live with their dogs. They're not becoming ill. In fact, compared with children who don't have a pet dog, those who grow up in homes with dogs are substantially less likely to develop auto-immune disorders (like asthma, allergies, ear infections, etc.); are happier, HEALTHIER(!); more optimistic; live longer; and score higher grades in school.
Biting? Come on. That' is such a tired, old, baseless "reason" to forbid dogs. Only one in eight dogs ever bite anyone at any time in their lives. And the majority of those are against the owner. Less than 1% of all bites involve a supervised dog in a neutral, public place (i.e. not on, or near, the owner's property). The likelihood that both the owner will be irresponsible enough to bring an admittedly aggressive dog to the office, and that dog actually successfully biting someone while there, is pretty slim.
Barking? Sure, some dog owners are losers. But many have actually trained their dogs properly. Holding responsible dog owners accountable for the actions of losers is reprehensible. Hold individuals accountable for their own actions. If you let your dog bark repeatedly, then you are no longer allowed to participate in "Take Your Dog To Work Day". It's not rocket science.
Having said that, while I might bring my dog to work with me (if I didn't work from home...where my dog is often in my office, already), I don't really see the big draw.
Okay...I take that back. I know so many dog owners are a bit obsessed with their dogs. Not in a good way or a way that is meaningful to the dog. But in a way that fulfills purely human needs, for those individuals. (I think most people would know what I'm talking about.)
Dogs need attention, companionship, structure, stimulation, food, water, and shelter. They really don't care to watch your co-workers' PowerPoint presentations.
Being such a realist, I can imagine what I'd need to take my dog to work.
1. I am admittedly a "clean freak". That means I'd definitely need to bring a vacuum cleaner of some kind. (Here at home, I vacuum at least once a day.)
2. My dog is very large. As such, she could easily develop callouses on her elbows, if she has to lie on less-than-plush surfaces for any length of time. (You've seen dogs with elbow callouses. Eeeeewwwww!) That means I'd also have to bring one of her beds. (She's eight, and her elbows are still as soft as a puppy's.)
3. I'd also need a large water dish and placemat. (She's a bit of a messy drinker...which is not that much different than many of my old advertising buddies. But that's another story.) Some cleaning supplies would probably be necessary then, too...unless you're a filthy, filthy person...who'd just let his/her dog spill water all over the place and not clean it up.
4. I feed my extremely fit and large dog at least 4 times a day. That means at least one (maybe two) meals would have to be fed at the office. I'd have to bring a food dish and dog food. I might even want to bring her toothbrush and toothpaste. Nah...that can wait 'til we get home.
5. Treats. That's a given. Lots of treats.
I guess those are the "basics".
But I can imagine I'd be so concerned about her mental well-being, I'd be distracted from my work, most of the day.
I think most companies know this. They don't expect employees to just conduct business as usual...oh yeah...with a dog at their feet. I think they know at least a portion of the day will be a write-off for many employees. But the benefit is happier employees (at least those who enjoy "Take Your Dog To Work Day"). It's a fun break from the monotony, I suppose.
One day per year is little more than a novelty. It doesn't solve any problems faced by dog owners.
There are, however, many companies that allow employees to bring dogs to work with them every day. There are apparently a number of benefits for doing so. Adapting to the daily routine, most dogs just sleep, as they would at home. But owners are less stressed (and maybe the dogs are too) by being able to supervise their dogs throughout the day.
"Take Your Dog To Work Day" is nothing more than "Funny Hat Day". If you can't see the potential for fun, then you're probably the person who needs "Funny Hat Day" (and the like) the most.
One correction, not all service dogs are "seeing eye" dogs. Some disabilities are not apparent.
My dog is trained to "alert" when there is a dip in my sugar level. I have a friend whose service dog is a seisure alert dog - she has epilepsy. Another lady I know has MS - and her BIG dog helps her with balance.
If you saw the 3 of us, with our dogs, the only way you would recognize their service status is by their "vests".
As far as dogs being taken to work, I don't think it's that big a deal - if the dogs in question are well socialized and well trained.
Many people who have negative mental pictures of how dogs can behave in any situation are owners of untrained and unsocialized dogs themselves.
I take my dog to work with me on a regular basis. I have a clean office and she doesn't bother anyone else. As a matter of fact, people come to MY office to see her.
One of the managers comes in, many times after a stressful meeting, for what he calls a "puppy break." I don't charge him a cent.
I recommend that people have their dogs trained there are many good sources in this community - i.e., many high schools' night schools, Miami-Dade Kendall Campus, the Miami Obedience Club, or any private dog trainer. I also recommend that they have their animals tested and pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. This test verifies that the animal in question knows how to behave politely in public situations.
This more than I can say about some of the kids that came through my office in April.
Take your dog to work day makes more sense than the "take your kid to work day." THAT started out as "Take our daughters to work day" - meant to expose young girls to the work world.
Now, all the "take your child to work day is" is an unofficial teacher planning day. Everyone knows that, even if they don't take their kids to the office, not to send them to school on that date. In elementary and middle schools, they send all the attending kids to a room to watch movies. No teaching is done on that day.
The kids that do come to the office, spend most of the day coloring in their parents' offices or (as happened in my office) going door to door to see if anyone offered candy.
Do you really think that the VAST majority of kids that are not in school on that date are actually "learning something"? You must be kidding.
One little girl in particular was upset when she couldn't take home a toy that I keep in my office.
Really.
The idea of dogs in an office is neither good nor bad in and of itself. It all depends on the animal in question and the type of office.
I agree with the first post - it is just for FUN. For crying out loud - as you would say - it's just for FUN.
Lighten up.
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