First celebrated in 1999, Take Your Dog To Work Day (TYDTWD) was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from shelters and breed groups.
There is an official website (of course!) at Take Your Dog To Work Day. They even offer a photo contest where you can download a photo of your dog enjoying their day at work with you. The prize is $500 cash , plus a prize package worth $200, and they will donate $500 to your favorite shelter or rescue group!
This site offers all kinds of great information, including the following tips on getting everything ready to have a successful TYDTWDay:
1) Do an office check with management and co-workers to see if anyone is allergic, afraid of or opposed to you bringing your dog to work for this one special day.
2) Puppy-proof your work space. Remove poisonous plants, hide electrical cords and wires and secure toxic items such as correction fluid, permanent markers, etc. Any office items in question should be placed out of your dog’s reach.
3) Bathe and groom your dog before its office debut. Be sure its shots are up-to-date. If your dog appears sick, don’t bring it to the office. Dogs that are aggressive or overly shy should not accompany you to work. Instead, consider bringing a favorite picture of your pooch.
4) Prepare a doggie bag. Include food, treats, bowls, toys, leash, paper towels, clean-up bags and pet-safe disinfectant (just in case). If you are routinely in and out of your work space, consider bringing a portable kennel for your dog’s comfort and your peace of mind.
5) Plan your pet’s feeding times carefully. Be sure to choose an appropriate area for your dog to relieve himself afterward.
6) Avoid forcing co-workers to interact with your dog. Dog lovers will make themselves known. To avoid pet accidents, monitor the amount of treats your pet is being given. Remember that chocolate, candy and other people food should not be shared with dogs.
7) Have an exit strategy. Although most dogs enjoy TYDTWDay, your pet may not. Should your dog become overly boisterous, agitated or withdrawn, consider taking him or her home. Most companies allow for this on TYDTWDay. Never, under any circumstance, leave your pet alone in a vehicle while you work.
When you go to the TYDTWD site be sure to click on the link at the top entitled 'Get Involved' for more valuable information. I especially like the one on how to win over your boss.
Hopefully, with this much notice, you will have time to arrange to bring your dog to work with you on Friday, June 25.
And I will want to see pictures, also!
