Take Your Dog to Work Day will be celebrated June 24. Businesses across the country will add dog treats, water bowls, leashes and chew toys to their office supply lists. Approximately 300 businesses participated in the first Take Your Dog to Work Day in 1999. In 2011, more than 5,000 businesses are expected to participate.
The effort is to promote pet adoption. The belief is that when employees are allowed to bring their pets to work, workers who do not have pets at home will be inspired to adopt a pet. The event was created by Pet Sitters International, the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, representing nearly 7,500 independent professional pet-sitting businesses in the United States, Canada and abroad. PSI was established in 1994.
This year, PSI has partnered with Veterinary Pet Insurance, one of the the nation’s oldest and largest pet health insurer, to promote Take Your Dog to Work Day and the benefits of pet guardianship. Also partnering with PSI this year areAdopt-a-Pet.com, Dog Fancy magazine, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and Four Legged Life.
“From reducing stress levels to helping increase our physical activity, pets have been shown to enrich our lives in so many ways,” Patti Moran, PSI president said. “TYDTWDay offers pet parents an opportunity to show off their dogs to co-workers and give back to the pet community by promoting a great cause—pet adoption.”