Why Pets are Great for Workplace
Written ny Jocelyn Husch, AHT
There are so many benefits of having a furry companion in your life. There have been studies on the influence it can have in our own personal health by decreasing stress, increasing our exercise and providing companionship. These benefits can easily be transferred into the work environment. Not every work place allows you to bring your pets to work, but there are exceptions to the rule. It is becoming more and more popular to give our furry companions a job. There are registered pet therapy animals that upon passing both physical and temperament testing are allowed to enter into work environments. Whether it is to provide companionship to the elderly, put a smile on a hospitalized individual or to just be a reading buddy to a young student just learning to read. It is a great role for a pet to fulfill as they are so innocent and do not bring along judgement to a situation. The other type of work place companion you might find out and about would be a clinic pet. It isn’t unusual to find a clinic that has one (if not more) clinic pets (typically a cat). These are usually pets that have found their way into the heart s of the staff after being surrendered to the clinic (either as a stray or the previous owner’s couldn’t continue caring for them).
Although they are often the clinic greeter they also have a bigger role in the day to day running of the clinic. Yes they are there to provide comfort to those who needed it (they don’t always learn the fine line of when their affection is too much), but they also create an inviting atmosphere. They break through the cold sterile feeling that a medical facility can often bring. Aside from the cute and cuddly side, in most cases they are also often utilized for demo purposes. A technician or veterinarian might use the clinic pet to demonstrate how to give your pet a pill or injection (also we usually only give them saline instead of the medication your pet has been prescribed). Your own pet might be fearful or stressed from the visit and we wouldn’t want them to be even more stressed from teaching you how to administer a treatment.
The other lifesaving service that a clinic pet can provide in an emergency situation is becoming a blood donor too. As you can see, there are numerous benefits to having a pet in the work environment and your furry friend will love having a job to complete.
