Bonn. On the 'Colleague Dog' campaign day on June 11th, the German Animal Welfare Association and the food brand Cesar are promoting four-legged friends as companions in everyday work. Companies that allow dogs on their premises are invited to take part in the day of action on June 11th to set an example for other employers. Registration is possible at www.tierschutzbund.de/kollege-hund. All participating companies receive a Cesar surprise package and a certificate.
“Many dogs have to stay home alone for hours or are looked after by dog sitters while their owners work. We want to change that and promote greater acceptance of dogs in the workplace. If companies allow dogs to be taken with them, they also relieve the burden on animal shelters because fewer dogs are given away due to lack of time and because shelter dogs have a better chance of being adopted,” says Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Association.
“Dog-friendly offices can be a real enrichment for animals, employees and employers and at the same time strengthen the attractiveness of companies in the competition for skilled workers. We have seen that this works for over 25 years in our own offices, where dogs are welcome. With the 'Colleague Dog' day of action, we would also like to encourage other employers to open their doors to dogs,” says Tomasz Pawlowski, Managing Director of Mars Pet Nutrition Germany, which is co-organizing the day of action with its Cesar brand.
Many working people see caring for their dog during working hours as a problem. A third of people don't have a pet because of time constraints – this is the result of a survey by Mars Petcare¹, the company behind the food brand Cesar. The day of action starts here because it shows that work and dog ownership can be easily combined – with demonstrable benefits not only for the dog and its owner: Studies show that dogs in the office can promote social interaction⁴. More than half of employees say that their feelings of stress² are reduced when a dog is present. In addition, many employees report that they feel more integrated in the team when they take breaks and have conversations together. However, these effects only occur if everyone involved is taken into account.
Clear rules for everyday work
In order for everyday work with a dog to be successful, the dog in question should be suitable for being taken to the workplace and feel comfortable there. A basket or blanket in a sheltered place and fresh water must be available at all times. Owners should exercise their dog before starting work so that he can relax in the office and dedicate the lunch break entirely to the dog. The German Animal Welfare Association encourages companies to introduce clear, official regulations that generally allow dogs to be brought along. Any allergies and fears among other employees must be taken seriously. A guideline for harmonious coexistence can include, among other things, a leash requirement for certain areas and at the same time ensure occupational safety and infection protection.
The “Colleague Dog” campaign day has been taking place for 19 years now and has established itself as an impulse for an animal-friendly work culture. Participating companies set an example because they show how easily dogs can usually be integrated into everyday work.
Sources
1 State Of Pet Homelessness Index – survey commissioned by Mars Petcare (2023): https://cms.stateofpethomelessness.com/s3media/2024–01/soph-germany.pdf?VersionId=IOhnwBTOIYukiHAu4dOj81H4hext.DXD
2 Representative online survey by Statista on behalf of Mars Petcare on the topic of “pet ownership” (2019): https://deu.mars.com/news-stories/article s/umfrage-hamburg-ist-tierlieb-st ellt-tierhalter-aber-dennoch-vor- huerden?language_content_entity=de
3 Nationwide/HABRI study (2018): https://habri.org/research/mental-health/workplace-wellness/
4 Hall SS and Mills DS (2019) Taking Dogs Into the Office: A Novel Strategy for Promoting Work Engagement, Commitment and Quality of Life. Front. Vet. Sci. 6:138. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00138
Was this amount interesting or helpful?
Your rating shows us what you and your furry friend like – it's like a treat for us.