Animal-friendly policies celebrate the great relationship that people have with their pets—and The HSUS is leading the way. For Humane Society staff, their canine coworkers are changing the workplace for the better:

Harley
Kristy Mowell

The HSUS

Harley

Harley is a 5-year-old black and tan Miniature Pinscher. I started bringing Harley to work with me at The HSUS in April and he loves it! When we pull into the parking lot he gets so excited. He starts jumping up and down and whining to get out of the truck. He leads me straight to my office, but not before he stops to greet my coworkers and make sure they all pet him. He then goes to lie down on his pillow under my desk where he has a pillow and two blankets. He flips the pillow so that he is actually under it and sleeps until he hears someone he knows coming. He loves to greet everyone who comes into the office, but he has his favorites.

I like bringing Harley into work with me because I have found that we have bonded even more now that he is with me all day and not home alone. Some of my coworkers like to come in, sit on the floor and just hug him and pet him when they are having a bad day. They say it’s therapeutic. Harley loves people and I know he is a favorite with a lot of the staff; they come just to see him and bring him treats.  

Harley came into our family after we lost our beloved Rottweiler, Cody. I was devastated by the loss and missed Cody’s companionship. My husband and I found a breed rescue, Internet Miniature Pinscher Service, Inc. They didn’t have any dogs ready for adoption so they suggested I foster so that I could get to know the breed better.

Harley was my third foster. He looked like a mini Cody to me. When I picked him up I was shocked to see this little dog who weighed 33lbs! Miniature Pinschers are at usually 13-15 pounds. He was such a roly-poly dog! Harley had such a hard time breathing and walking and doing all the things dogs love to do so we promptly put him on a low calorie diet and exercised with him and he is now a healthy 16.9 pounds.  He is great with my kids—especially my 3-year-old—and he loves to play and run with them. He even sleeps under the covers with them.

By the time it came time for Harley to be adopted into a new family, I tried to explain to potential adopters all of the funny things he does—how he scratches at the floor when he needs to use the bathroom, how he “talks” to you to get your attention and how he listens so intently when you talk to him. I realized that I had fallen in love with Harley and couldn’t let anyone else adopt him—so I adopted him. 

Kristy is a data analyst in the Technology and Information Services section of The HSUS in Gaithersburg, Md.

The HSUS

Niko and Kimberly

Niko
Kimberly D'amico

Niko was rescued from a beach in Los Angeles County at 10 months old. He was skinny, flea infested and not neutered. While staying in his foster home he was attacked by another foster dog and suffered two broken ribs and a punctured lung. After six weeks of foster care, Niko was brought to me to join my family.

From day one Niko has gone to work with me. I am glad I work at a place where I have this opportunity to be able to bring my little buddy to work. When we get to the office he visits with every staff member and volunteer. After the greetings, he goes to his basket, gets inside his blankie and “guards” the office. He is very reserved for a rat terrier, and keeps a watchful eye on the comings and goings of the center. He helps his friend Lupe, (the sassy Chihuahua) with the goings on and tries to let her know that not everyone needs their ankles nipped.

His favorite time of day is lunchtime. Having a terrier nose, he always knows who he can beg the best treats from. After lunch, its time for his afternoon nap in his sunspot—but he always keeps an ear out for a visitor.

Niko likes to participate in different chores; taking the trash to the dumpster (going for a ride on the EZgo), cleaning the cattery (new smells), squirrel patrol (chasing little things is fun). The last chore of the day is feeding Samson the African lion, which means going for another ride in the truck. He works hard, and at the end of the day he is ready to go home and resume life as a normal dog.

Kimberly D'amico is an animal technician II at The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center, a branch of The HSUS in Ramona, Calif.

The HSUS

Nova

Nova
Marney Finkle

Nova is only the second dog I’ve ever had. She is a German Shorthaired Pointer adopted in 1999 from the Montgomery County Humane Society in Rockville, Md., where I was working at the time. After two years with my first dog Comet—named after the Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997—I was ready to add a second dog to the family. I thought I’d take my time and use my shelter experience to pick the right dog. But the moment I saw her, a stray, I knew she was the one. Most of all I wanted her to be a companion to Comet, and in keeping with the astronomical theme I named her Nova.

Nova fit right in and easily became the head of my little dog family. She loved getting Comet to chase her around the fenced yard, playing tug-of-war with him over a toy, or dragging him around by his collar. She figured out on her own how to play ‘fetch” with her favorite squeaky ball. She points too, all from instinct, usually at a rabbit or bird or squirrel we encounter on a walk.

The HSUS Dogs in the Workplace policy couldn’t have come at a better time. In September 2006 we lost Comet to a sudden illness. I felt bad leaving Nova alone all day in an empty house with only cats for company. I decided to bring her in to the office three days a week. Nova had not been around too many people before, but I was pleasantly surprised how she happily greeted my coworkers as they passed by my cubicle that first day. She is super-excited on the days she gets to come to work with me. She knows when I pick out a certain leash that I use to take her to work that she is going.

For Nova, the best thing about coming to the office are all the extra walks she gets during the workday. If I don’t take her out, then she is more than happy to accompany anyone on their mid-afternoon walk break. For me, bringing her to work means that I don’t have to rush home at the end of the day to let her out and get her dinner. It also makes me very happy to see the pleasure she brings to my coworkers who stop by with a pat on the head or a treat. Other than that, I just enjoy spending the extra time with my dog.

Marney is a research assistant in the Wildlife and Habitat Protection section of The HSUS in Gaithersburg, Md.

The HSUS

Ruby and Rebecca

Ruby
Rebecca Frye

While driving along a Florida highway back in 2000, I noticed a gangly black and white dog scavenging a meal in the middle of a lane. I quickly pulled over to try to coax her into the safety of my car. Luckily, she found me more appealing than the squished armadillo, and she climbed right in.

She wasn’t wearing a collar, and I could tell from her appearance that she had been wandering the streets for awhile. Since she had committed herself to such a risky course of action in an effort to fill her belly, I dubbed her Rubicon and vowed to have her spayed, vaccinated and in a loving home very soon. Little did I know that loving home would be mine!

Several months and many veterinary visits later, Rubicon had recovered from mange, a fractured paw, hypertrophic osteo dystrophy, had “tofu-ed” up quite nicely from regular, healthy vegan meals, and now, at about eight months old, was ready for that forever home.

I asked lots of people. I made cute flyers. I walked her around so she could impress with her extraordinary cuteness. But whenever someone expressed interest in adopting her, I was worried that somehow she’d end up in the back of a pick-up truck or worse, especially since she has a goodly amount of pit bull in her. So, Ruby—as she was now called to reflect her treasured status—officially joined my family of two kitties, Junior and Cavvy, and Clancy, a Labrador/shepherd mix.
 
Ruby quickly learned that kitties weren’t for chasing and beds were wonderful places to snuggle into people, but she has been much slower to learn that the world isn’t always a hurtful, dangerous place. Obviously mistreated as a puppy, she has been quite fearful of people, dogs, bicycles, large concrete lion statues ... just about anything bigger than her.

Being able to bring Ruby to work has had many benefits for me: I can spend more time with her whenever I’m not deployed in the field. When work stress builds up, we both drop into a quick series of Downward Dogs. We take walks at lunch and appreciate nature—especially the squirrels and woodchucks. And I know my cats, now ancient 17- and 18-year-olds, can have some dog-free time to lounge on the floor’s sunny spots.

I was worried, though, that Ruby’s fearfulness would prevent her from enjoying her new job. But within a few weeks, she gained a contingent of “Aunties” who regularly give her t-r-e-a-t-s, toys—even a handmade pillow. Soon she began to stop for pats, treats, and butt scratches on the way to her cube. And, she’s now happy to receive hugs from whomever may need a quick doggie fix when the daily battles to help animals wear us down.

I love that she gets people to smile, and to laugh at the heart-shaped spot on her neck. I love that she’s become a self-assured, friendly ambassador for pit bulls, and mostly, that even outside of work, she has stopped worrying that every strange human or dog is a potential threat. Now she sees them all as potential friends.

Rebecca is a field rescue responder in the Disaster Services section of The HSUS in Gaithersburg, Md.

The HSUS

Cera

Cera
Andi Bernat

Cera joined our family in 1996 as a 4-year-old from the Arizona Humane Society. She had been surrendered by her family. We didn’t even know she had freckles until we took her to the groomer. She was in the first row of cages and her hair was tangled and dirty. But, beneath all of her rough exterior we could see she was an extremely sweet dog. In the years Cera has been with us, we get comments every day from strangers on her beauty and how much she looks like a puppy despite her senior status of 15 years. Cera is the shining example of the kind of loving and healthy adult dogs in shelters that would make wonderful companion animals. 

Cera loves to go for walks and enjoys the park outside of the HSUS Government Affairs office. She is always willing to provide love and snuggles when needed by her co-workers on the third floor. She happily accepts treats from our volunteers. Cera has made visits to the U.S. Capitol to help promote spay/neuter, and also met Senator Barack Obama and Senator John Ensign. She is always spreading her message about how many adorable, friendly adult dogs there are in shelters waiting to be adopted by a loving family. She is so happy to be here at the HSUS Government Affairs Department to help enact laws to protect animals.

Andi is the director of state legislation in the Government Affairs section of The HSUS in Washington, D.C.

The HSUS

Lupe and Cindy

Lupe
Cindy Traisi

We adopted Lupe Tortuga in November 2005 when she was 13 years old. She is a smallish Chihuahua mix with a little weight problem. We fell in love with her because she looked like an old harbor seal! I call her Miss Fat Fanny. She loves us so much and would be distraught if she could not come to work every day. She also has many "aunts and uncles" and her buddy Niko at her work. She would miss them terribly if she weren't here. The day we adopted her was one of the best days of our lives. She has made us so happy and we have given her a new life.

Cindy is an assistant manager at The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center, a branch for The HSUS in Ramona, Calif.

The HSUS

Sara

Sara
Dawn Lauer

“Is that a puppy?”

That’s the most common greeting that Sara and I receive whenever we meet someone new. At only 35 pounds, Sara resembles a German Shepherd puppy, however she’s actually a full grown Australian Kelpie mix and the perfect size for my lifestyle. Her past is largely a mystery to me. All I know is that she was surrendered to a humane society in Virginia in November 2006. Three weeks later, I adopted this sweet girl.

Sara is a very special girl who has gone through a lot since I adopted her in January. Yet, she maintains her sweet and happy personality. Sara has Lymphosarcoma, and as with any medical condition, she benefits greatly from the positive interactions with my colleagues and companionship, which she is able to receive thanks to the dog-friendly policy at The HSUS.

Her favorite part of the day is when visitors stop by and shower her with love (and of course treats!). Sara is also receiving medications during the day, which would be extremely difficult to administer if she was not able to accompany me to work. She serves as a reminder of the joy that animals bring to our lives and serves as an inspiration to continue to work toward a more humane society.

Dawn is an outreach assistant in the Companion Animals section of The HSUS in Gaithersburg, Md.

The HSUS

Caitie

Caitie
Shannon Gallo

I have been lucky enough to spend the past 6 and a half years of my life with my dog, Caitie. Caitie is a mutt-half pug; the other half is anybody’s guess. My Mom and I adopted Caitie from a local rescue group: Lucky Ones SPCA. She was 5 or 6 months old when we adopted her, and we were told she was a stray who was found with her mom. Caitie had demodectic mange when we adopted her, but after a few months of healthy food and a little bit of medicine, that went away.

Ever since Caitie was a puppy she has always been a little timid and shy. She’s very unsure of strangers and other dogs. Since I’ve started bringing Caitie to work with me she has really started to open up a bit more, which is great to see after having spent 6 years with a shy dog. Over the years Caitie has gradually become more comfortable with strangers and new surroundings, but she has definitely made a lot of progress since she has started coming to work with me at The HSUS.

She gets excited when we pull into the parking lot and loves just sitting in my cubicle waiting for visitors. It has been really great to see Caitie go from hiding behind my legs and running away from everything, to running up to people in the parking lot, tail wagging away. She still gets frightened from time to time, but not half as much as she used to. Watching this change in Caitie has been the best part about bringing her to work with me.

Shannon is an administrative assistant in the Campaigns section of The HSUS in Gaithersburg, Md.

The HSUS

Gracie and Debi.

Gracie
Debi Gillette

My dog Gracie comes to work with me every day, but that’s because I work from home. She has gone on the road on behalf of The HSUS, appearing in an HSUS booth at a conference in Chicago. She was the only dog there, and drew quite a crowd.

Another time she road-tripped it to Wisconsin, and while I was in my donor meetings, she played at the park with my husband and daughter.
 
Debi Gillette is the director of major gifts in the Major and Planned Gifts section of The HSUS, working out of a home office in Bolingbrook, Ill.

The HSUS

Quinten

Quinten
Diana Clement

We adopted a feral dog named Stella while I was an Animal Control Officer. It suited Stella just fine to go along on official stray dog hunts. She was gifted not only at finding dogs that were hiding, but also well suited to the busy, active outdoor work. When I left animal control to work in the shelter offices, I knew that Stella would be bored staring at a computer all day. So, my husband took over accompanying Stella to work at a veterinary clinic. She uses her fluent canine language skills to reassure all hospital patients that there is no reason to be afraid because she knows the staff members and they are not dangerous. She is not interested in the lobby at all—where strangers sit with their companion animals.  

A couple of years ago, we adopted a puppy, Quinten, who seemed to want little more than a lap and a comfortable place to curl up. Despite him being far from our usual match, Rick and I were open to our changing lifestyle; a little bit of couch potato has crept up on us.

Like Stella, Quinten has grown up going to work, and he enjoys the office at The HSUS. He was a great bite prevention instructor and enjoys meeting new people. Unlike Stella, he has no interest in finding lost dogs. He’s not quite interested in finding lost cats, either. As far as staring at the computer all day, he seems to feel it’s the perfect excuse to convince passers by to hand out affection as well as practice his comfort seeking skills. He can tell the difference between velvet, chenille and velour and prefers the latter. He does not like food that is heated too much, but a heated floor is preferred.

Stella has done all she can with him and has made it clear that although he looks like a dog, he might be something new. In any event, he’s good company for us all. We hope we offer the same for him. 

Diana is the director of Humane Society University for The HSUS in Gaithersburg, Md.