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I have two friends that work in the same office.  The office has a company dog that comes in the office everyday.  One friend loves it, the other doesn't like it.  I know some companies that have cats and even one that has a parrot.   What would you do if your office had a pet?  Do you think it is right?  Some people are allergic, sometimes dogs bark, some think it is a good mental break to just stop and pet animals.   What do you think?   

For a start that has to be against any Health and Safety policy...court cases and claims gallore me thinks!!!

What would I do if my office had a pet?  Sue!!

There's a small shop in our neighborhood in which the owners have a well-behaved dog.  The dog usually spends most of the time napping behind the counter, with occasional "meet and greets" with customers.  My mechanic has what he calls a "shop cat". 

But these are small, family-owned shops. A hobby shop and a mechanic's garage are not the same as a corporate office - where I DON'T think animals are a good idea.  As you mentioned, allergies, toileting issues, barking and other noises make for a difficult working environment.  And who pays the vet bills?  The company?  Would employees have to contribute?

I seem to recall many years ago a company tried "bring your pet to work day" and someone brought in a rather large snake.  Poor judgment all around, especially when the snake disappeared.  I would have flatly refused to work under those conditions. 

Sometimes I feel like I work with a bunch of animals (but I suppose that is a different question)!

Would love to have the odd pet or 2 to say hello to during times of stress though.

PS Gee, who is sue?

Jess (stressed out of my gauge at the moment - hence the above comment!)  >:(

LOL @ Jess and I know exactly what you mean.  But pets in the office, I might have a problem with especially with allergy issues, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Although I love pets, dogs more than cats, but that's another question too....My mom's old boss used to bring his dog into the office but it was the family home and part of that house was their office. Very small environment and that is a different setting entirely.  Just depends on the situation and circumstances I guess for me....

Jess,

I was tempted to say I work with all sorts of animals -

- Monkeys
- Donkeys
- Asses
- Weasels
- Snakes
- Dogs (bitches mostly!)
- Cats
- Rats

But that would just be an insult to animals.

Ha ha ha ha that is probably the only time you can use bitches and 100% ok with it!  ahah that made me laugh and smile.  I work mainly with weasles!

Here in the San Francisco Bay Area there are a lot of companies that allow dogs or have a dog around the office.  It isnt main stream, I would guess 1% or less, but still, out of 100000 companies that makes a could hundred around the area.  It isn't just small and mom and pop companies, Zynga (game on facebook) allows dogs and a few other larger companies.  I love dogs so have would have no problem if a dog is well behaved.  I would LOVE to bring my dog to work, but he a stubborn SOB and wouldn't behave or be calm.

http://tinyurl.com/7j2cgmw (http://tinyurl.com/7j2cgmw)  That link is just for the cuteness factor!

When I used to have my own business and employed a couple of staff I used to take Corrie, my then black lab to work with me.  He used to curl up on his chair and go to sleep but always used to wake up to greet clients.  Infact it did get to the point where clients used to just pop in to see Corrie!

I am allergic to animal fur but have always said I would always rather take antihistamine rather than sacrifice my love of animals.  Luckily the staff I employed loved Corrie and were not bothered about him being in the office, if they had been I wouldn't have taken him to work with me. 

The company I work for now I wouldn't bring a dog in, infact my boss wouldn't let any of us bring one in.  The office is open plan and some people in the office are not doggie people at all.

As for a dogs behaviour in an office - thats all down to training, Corrie wouldn't dare bark at people coming into the office he also knew after time which clients he could go up to for a cuddle or attention and which ones to ignore lol.  He also knew that when I said bed I meant it! But if someone came into the office that he didn't know he was straight off his chair to be at my side.

Since I am allergic to any kind of our furry friends, I might have to quit my job.

I can see both sides of this.  I personally love animals and if one is well behaved I don't have an issue with one being in the office.  However, I can see the liabilty and the allergic issues.  I have been in many small shops and even some bed and breakfasts that have a company pet.
What happens when the pet has an acciden?
Am I still on the clock if I take Fido for a walk?
Sidebar - most dogs are better behaved then the children that are brought to work and they usally aren't sick!

Oh, A-MEN to that!  Given the choice, personally, I'd take a well-behaved dog over an undisciplined human child any day!  (Or an undisciplined adult for that matter!)

Personally, I would love it.

Most offices that allow it have policies that go with it (i.e. regarding animal behavior, accidents, etc.). I don't know how they handle the allergy issues.

Here is an interesting article on it that says 1 in 5 companies in the US allows it (done several years ago, though). I would be a little surprised if that statistic were accurate, but I suppose it's possible.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,200460,00.html (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,200460,00.html)

Again this would never happen in my company or any company I have worked.

The office is no place for animals or children.  You are dicing with danger if you think or do otherwise.

What happened if an animal attacked or bit someone, or got mangled in a machine/piece of equipment?  Who would be liable then?   

Not to mention the stench.  People seem to forget animals smell and carry germs.  They don't bathe or shower like humans, they walk in all sorts of dirt and muck.  Is that acceptable in a workplace, no, definitely not!!

It doesn't surprise me that this topic stemmed from the US in the first place.

Yes, we are quite progressive and wonderfully accepting of our pets in the US and we rather like it that way. Fortunately you have an ocean to separate you from the chaos and horror. LOL

What a disgusting environrment to come to work in every day, at least we have standards in the UK.

Oh for goodness sake, gee, you're being ridiculous. It is not like there is a pile of dog crap every two feet you need to step around. It looks exactly like any other office. If the animals are not well behaved they aren't allowed to return.

Typical selfish attitude with no thought towards others.

Last time I checked my shoes go pretty much the same place a dog's foot would.  Have you considered the germs in a common bathroom - eww gross.  And considering some of the public restrooms I've used across the pond I will take our US sanitation over UK any day.
To end on a funny note my hubby sent me a you tube video of a cat that just moved in with a new family.  Their son is playing in the sandbox and the cat is freaking out.  The cat says why doesn't the kid just go already, the kid is making the cat nervous.  It's really amusing.

Now we are comparing animals to toilets?!  What planet are you people from?

All right, that's enough. I am officially putting on my moderator's hat and issuing a yellow card warning (and note to all, I am including MYSELF in that warning as well, since I fully acknowledge I was one of the ones escalating the tone of this conversation). So play nice in this thread from here on out.

Animals crap where they find - FACT
My shoes don't

Do animals wipe themselves clean, no - FACT
My shoes are cleaned or left at the door

Animals walk in dirt, muck, water, soil, grass, sand etc - FACT
Humans wear shoes, we don't walk outside on bare feet

Do animals enter your house and walk all over your floors and carpet, yes - FACT

Do animals climb all over your sofa, chairs, bed etc, yes - FACT

Do you replace your floors and carpet and bedclothes when they do, no - FACT

If your bathroom smells and looks like your dog, it's time to do some cleaning!!

I absolutely adore animals.  I think it rather depends on the environment as to whether an animals is acceptable.  For example, I used to work in a hospice, where animals were always welcome to visit with day care patients, or those who were staying for longer.  They were kept away from administration floors.  The animals were a great help to patients.

Unfortunately, I am allergic to cats and dogs so I would find it challenging to have animals in my current office.

Exactly my point Rain, not everyone can be around animals.  My mother is asthmatic, other people I know have allergies, so whilst it might sound like a nice idea, you have to put your fellow human beings first and consider their medical ailments as well as what is an acceptable environment to be in.

Hopefully I will never have to be admitted to a home or hospice where there are animals...you might as well shoot me beforehand.

You have to remember also as I said above, "keeping them away from admin floors" is not the answer either.  Smells and hairs carry and are left behind.  Even to have an animal in the same building can be a health hazzard for others.  Health and safety has to be a priority where human beings are concerned.

Right everyone, this has gone far enough and I'm now calling this as a RED card.  Any more and this thread will be locked.

Play nice or don't play.

Don't punish those who were asked to respond to this posting Jackie.  You might want to redirect this at the person who posted the item/topic in the first place.

It seems a lot of postings within the Sound Off category cause controvsery which you will have with such subjects as this.

I think it was an appalling post for a professional networking site.  Did no one think it would cause controversy?  Is that what the OP intended?

Gee

This was a perfectly reasonable question, I have worked in an office where pets were permitted.  Admittedly nobody told me about it when I got the job so it wasn't my cup of tea.

You inflamed the situation with some of your comments.  Please refer to your email from Mek which you should have received in the last couple of months.

The poster started it, don't punish those who were asked to respond.  Perfectly reasonable responses to a topic such as this.

Whether you agree or disagree, the tone of this thread is getting out of hand.

One final warning.  Play nice and if you can't, then keep your comments zipped.

Wonders if people sanitize their shoes before walking into their offices ;)

I do not believe this is a controversial topic, and one that shouldn't be discussed on a professional networking site - animals in the office is something that is happening, and something that we all have a view on, but please respect that not everyone has the same opinion as you.

Sound Off (and the Forum) is exactly the place to exchange views, ideas, etc and stimulate discussion, but not to inflame or offend others.

If anyone feels this topic was not for them, then please do not participate or find/start a thread that you do want to discuss.

Thank you.

Gee

Out of interest does you company allow assistance dogs in their offices?

Coz

Well said Alison :)

I find it interesting that everyone assumes that animals in the office must refer to cats or dogs...  I know MANY offices that have aquariums in them.  Fish are animals too, and I think that is where the 1 of every 5 offices in the US statistic may come from.  I do not see that many offices really allowing cats and dogs in, though I know of several (especially mom and pop places) that do have one or the other.  Employees know about it beforehand, so if it's not to their liking, they can work elsewhere.  Same with customers... if they see the pet and don't want to be around it, then don't go into the store.  It's all a personal choice, and it is the owner's personal choice to bring their pet to their workplace and not hire/maintain workers that don't like it, or keep customers who don't like it.

As for cleanliness of pets... I know most of the dogs that are brought into the workplace are bathed regularly, are not allowed to run around outside and roll in all sorts of stuff, even have their teeth brushed daily, and basically are cleaner than any kids running in and out of the house.  Animals that go into hospitals and nursing homes and such must graudate a behavior class, to ensure that they are well behaved in a myriad of circumstances, are clean, etc. and have been shown to lift spirits and improve the health of the patients.  Is it for everyone, no.  Do you have the option of having one visit?  yes.

As for some facts...  not all animals shed, and there are hypo-allergenic dogs that are cute and cuddly!  Animals are discriminating about where they do their business and many are trained to go in specific areas or locations.  Not all animals are allowed to climb all over furniture, this is a personal decision one makes with each pet.  Depending on how responsible the owners are, the type of pet, etc, one can have a pet and no one else, including someone entering your residence, would ever know it was there.  The same goes for a pet in a business.

Do I think that pets should be allowed willy-nilly in any business?  No.  Do I think that there are some where it is appropriate or acceptable?  Yes.  Would I like to work at one?  Yes.  However, I do not feel that an office where folks are tied to a computer all day doing office work is the best business for them to be around.  Could I see some around construction offices? yes.  In a high-rise corporate office?  no.  But I'm sure that someone out there has done it and it worked... and some have tried and it failed, in both instances.

Great topic... made me think.

Coz,
At least I know where mine have been!  And no we don't have any blind or impaired people in my place of work so no animals.

CG,
I was in fact referring to all animals but those were the ones that came to mind simply because of my personal experiences with them...if you are allergic to animals, you are allergic, end of.

We have a strict policy regarding ways of working in work, animals would not favour.

Gee, I believe this is again a time when you are putting your opinion and experiences out as facts that apply to everyone, when in fact they do not.  You may be allergic to all animals, but I have a cousin who is allergic to dog dander, and she has a dog that does not have the dander, hence no allergic reaction to it.  She cannot be around any other animals with fur, other than those touted as being "hypo-allergenic", but she can be around turtles or fish or snakes, etc, basically anything without fur isn't a problem.  Poodles and some other dogs are actually described as hypo-allergenic dogs due to the fact that most folks who have an allergy to pets actually can be around them.  Is this 100% of everyone in the world?  No.  But it is a large enough percentage for the pet world to be able to describe these animals as such.  If you change your statement to read "If I'm allergic to animals, I'm allergic, end of." then that would be your personal experience and irrefutible.  You may  fall into the percentage that cannot be around even these pets, I don't know and would never try to contradict you regarding your experiences, but neither you nor I can speak on behalf of everyone.

I do feel that even in a hectic work environment, around computers and sterile environments, that an aquarium is a nice calming addition.  Most doctor's office and dentist's offices use aquariums as a decoration in their lobbies due to the calming affect of watching fish swim around and around... the soothing white noise from the aerators... and have someone who comes in and takes care of cleaning the tanks and such so no employee is expected to do this.  The more I thought about this today, the more I believe that an aquarium in my current company would be a big help.  We have a high stress environment... must meet production and quality standards every day to keep our job... deal with irrate customers constantly... and an aquarium in our break area I think would be a nice destressing agent.  I may have to recommend that to my Director....  hmmmmm......

Don't put me down for having a voice.  I speak from personal experience and at present animals would not favour in my working envirionment or anyone else's I know of.

Lots of people have allergies and reactions or are intolerant to certain elements, that's why you have to make the workplace a safe environment.  Can you imagine the sick record if people who came into contact with animals suddenly took ill?  Who would be to blame then?  Management of course for letting it happen.

Like I said, honest every day experiences are what I bring to this forum, not made up ones. 

I know several people who cannot and would not be around animals in any situation. 

We have just finally had a smoking ban brought into the UK and Europe after many years of people suffering at the hands of others.  You seriously think employers want more court cases on their hands by bringing animals into an environment which is against health and safety?

You might know where your shoes have been but if you have been walking on a pavement, do you know exactly what was on that pavement before you - that was all.   We were talking about this sort of thing in our office one day and one of the guys said he had read somewhere that handbags can be just as bad at carrying round germs etc because alot of us tend to put them on the floor, then without thinking we put them on our desk or chair etc. 

But what if someone was attending a meeting in your offices that was blind or visually impaired and had a guide dog?

Coincidentally I was looking at a job description yesterday for a post at Guide Dogs for the Blind and on the essential list of criteria is says 'Comfortable with dogs in the workplace/ office'.  There is also a place on the application form which asks if you have any allergies.  Now because I do suffer from allergies I wouldn't be put off from applying as I can control them and would never sacrifice my love of animals.

I guess there are someone people that wouldn't apply for a job with GDB because of animals being in the office but I would because I love animals, love being round animals.

At the end of the day its each to their own, every loves animals in their own way I guess its just a case of how much :)

As I said previously Coz, shoes are cleaned or left at the door....read back to my postings.  Do you clean your shoes every day after walking your dog?  Do you walk with those shoes into your house?  Does you dog walk into your house?

Given the nature of the company I work for and what we do, it would be impossible for a blind or visually impaired person to deal with our working environment for reasons I cannot go into.

I have never worked with a blind or visually impaired person so have never seen animals or dogs in the workplace.  At a guess I am assuming the blind or visually impaired would not be suitable for all types of work.

I heard only the other day a guide dog stopped (with his owner) in the middle of the road to have a poo.  A driver pulled over, got out of his car, and went to the aid of the blind person who had no idea he was in the middle of the road nor that his dog had stopped there.  You can see where this would be a liability in any workplace.

Again, given the nature and location of some places of work, it is not acceptable to have animals nor acceptable to expect employees to accept that working environement either.  We also have never had a blind or visually impaired person visit for a meeting, so again, no dogs on site.

A designer bag on the floor...never! :D

A programme on this years ago said that as women predominantly put their bags on the floor in a toilet, the bags do carry more germs than almost anything else.  Thank goodness for hooks on doors.

As for the smoking ban, this came into force in Scotland quite some time ago.  It hasn't gone far enough but then was done on health grounds, as this is a matter devolved to the Scottish Parliament.  England, Wales and Northern Ireland took a little longer to decide on this matter, but I believe there has been a no smoking ban in force in the US for some considerable time now and so far ahead of us on this side of the Atlantic!

Popping into this thread rather late but it made me think that if I had a tank of fish within my vision, when I felt a bit stressed or under pressure, I could glance up and watch them for a short time and am certain this would have the desired effect.

Thought about this yesterday when I was in the opticians where they had a tank of brightly coloured fish - it really was calming just watching them glide gently around.

Can't remember if I said but we have a large aquarium in our reception area, and our housing team has a wee tank with one pretty big fish in it (pretty-big not pretty + big), it's really ugly!

Mmmmm, hadn't thought that if a tank was installed it could contain some 'uglies'.... now that wouldn't be relaxing would it.  Nothing is quite as simple as it appears, so now if my request is approved, I will have to ensure that I choose the 'pretties' otherwise my plan for relaxing glances at it will fail ........... will have to give this some thought :)

Then again, perhaps even ugly ones move gracefully so that would be calming but if it has an angry looking face, may as well just go and look at the boss for 10 minutes, ooops, who said that, only joking 8)

And get distracted? :o

I realize this is an old thread, but I found it interesting because 1) I work in a hospital and we have therapy dogs and, 2) we have laws in the US that people with assistance dogs are permitted anywhere.  More and more people have them, especially military veterans with anxiety issues.  The general public needs to be more accepting of this.  The therapy dogs in the hospital are clean and, in any case, you are in far more danger of germs from a fellow human than from a dog.

Welcome Owens... and yes, you make a good point.  We are seeing more and more of these therapy dogs and other animals being used for various purposes and the general public does need to be aware of these and more acceptable to them.  In general, I think they are getting there.

Glad to have you in our neighborhood!

And of course assistance dogs for those who are disabled through sight or hearing are allowed everywhere here in the UK too.

Good point about the therapy dogs though.  I can understand how useful animals could be in rehabilitating those who have been ill / or are long term ill.