When it’s time for Shani to go to work, she doesn’t have to say goodbye to her Essie – the woman can simply bring the dog with her to the office.
Shani works for an insurance company in Hobart, Tasmania. And it’s been a great place to bring her dogs for years.
“Everyone lights up when a dog walks around the call center and you can reach out and rub it. It makes people happy.”
At first, dogs could only be brought in on Fridays. Now it’s any day.
[Henry James, RACT staffer]:
“Dogs have this wonderful ability to break down barriers. It’s a benefit to everyone – me and Billy.”
Dogs here, like people, have identification cards. And they also make a priority list of visits to avoid too many animals on each floor at the same time.
And Companion Animal Network Australia advocates for more pets – any pets – in the workplace.
However, not all pets are welcome in the workplace. For example, rabbits are undesirable. They can chew up power cords. And in places such as kitchens or laboratories where there are chemicals, pets are contraindicated.
