Michelle Riley, The HSUS

Katie hangs out in Dawn Lauer's cubicle.

Is your dog ready for the daily grind? On Friday, June 20, workers across the U.S. will bring their best friends to the office to celebrate Take Your Dog to Work Day.

Take Your Dog To Work Day was created by Pet Sitters International (PSI) to celebrate dogs as great companions. According to PSI, the annual event encourages employers to experience the value of pets in the workplace. The event also encourages pet adoptions from shelters, humane societies and rescue groups.

Time for a Frisbee Break

Since 2007, every day has been Take Your Dog to Work Day at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Since The HSUS enacted a dog-friendly policy, the lives of many employees and their pooches have greatly improved. 

"I really enjoy being able to bring Rosa (her Jack Russell terrier) to work," said Jill Grand, sheltering communications specialist for the Companion Animals section of The HSUS. "Each day she whines excitedly as we pull into the parking lot because she knows she'll be getting treats and lots of love. 

Jill Grand

Rosa takes a break.

"I know that she's safe and sound here at the office, and I can cuddle her any time I need a bit of relaxation. 

She hangs out with me all day in my cubicle, jumping for joy when one of her favorite visitors pops by, and I know she's thrilled just to be part of the extended HSUS pack."

"Katie thoroughly enjoys coming to the office every day," said Dawn Lauer, outreach assistant for the Companion Animals section. "At the first sight of my coworkers, her tail begins to wag so hard that her whole body wiggles with excitement.

"When I adopted her in January, I quickly discovered that she had separation anxiety. By permitting her to accompany me to the office every day, it has allowed us to work through this issue at a slower pace (instead of leaving her home alone each workday)," said Lauer.

"When an issue arises that demands a longer workday, I can respond to the call without hesitation knowing that Katie is here with me."

Given the nature of The HSUS's work, Lauer said she and her colleagues can feel stressed when confronting the many animal cruelty issues that The HSUS works on every day. 

"The ability to step away for a moment and give Katie a belly-rub can really help to alleviate the stress and provide us with renewed inspiration to continue our work of protecting animals," she said.

Good for Business

Many companies find that animal-friendly policies celebrate the great relationship that people have with their pets and can also be good for business.

Jennifer Fearing, The HSUS's chief economist, came from a dog-friendly workplace and made a detailed case for moving in that direction. At the HSUS, Fearing provided compelling evidence that a change in policy benefits both employers and employees.

"It's not just smaller companies that can enjoy the benefits of dogs in the office," said Fearing, who, along with dog trainer Liz Palika, has written a practical how-to guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces, forthcoming next month from Humane Society Press.

"With some foresight, planning and attention to the concerns of those who may be less excited about having dogs around, even large companies can welcome dogs into the workplace while maintaining a professional—if more engaging—culture."

According to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, one in five U.S. companies allows dogs at work.

That same survey revealed that a significant percentage of Americans believe having pets in the workplace increases creativity, decreases absenteeism and fosters better relationships among colleagues.

In conjunction with Take your Dog to Work Day, offices are encouraged to raise awareness for their community humane organizations. Holding a fundraiser or advertising adoptable animals are some of the ways companies can support their local shelter or animal control agency.