Common workplace items may be hazardous to your pets
Take Your Dog to Work Day® creator PSI advises conducting a “safety sweep” before bringing dogs to work for this year’s event—or any other day.
KING, N.C. (May 22, 2018) — Businesses around the globe will open their doors to employees’ canines to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to promote pet adoptions on Friday, June 22— the 20th annual celebration of Take Your Dog To Work Day®(TYDTWDay®). Event creator Pet Sitters International (PSI) encourages pet owners to do a “safety sweep” of their workplaces to ensure all hazardous items are out of paws’ reach before bringing their dogs.
“Everyday items found in workspaces, breakrooms and supply closets can pose a threat to dogs,” explained Beth Stultz, PSI vice president and TYDTWDay spokesperson. “Taking just a few moments to ensure potentially hazardous items are not accessible ensures that dogs can have a fun and safe time when accompanying their owners to work.”
These items, potentially found in breakrooms or community kitchens, can pose a threat:
- coffee
- chocolate
- avocados
- macadamia nuts
- onions and garlic
If these items may be present, pet owners should ensure their dogs cannot access food that may be left in the refrigerator or on the counters—or leftovers that may be thrown away.
Other common workplace items that could pose a hazard to dogs include:
- human medicines
- insecticides or rodenticides
- cleaning products
- batteries
- poisonous plants, including aloe vera and ivy
“A good rule of thumb is to designate bathrooms, breakrooms and on-site cafes or kitchens as off-limits to dogs in the office,” said Stultz.
PSI has partnered with 2018 TYDTWDay sponsor Embrace Pet Insurance to offer pet owners a helpful infographic that highlights common workplace items that are hazardous to dogs.
Embrace Pet Insurance allows employees to bring dogs to the office throughout the year and has found that implementing simple policies ensures a positive, safe environment for employees and their pets.
“We have an open office environment at Embrace Pet Insurance, so we ask employees to keep their dog in their gated department while they are working. The dog should not roam free in the office and should be escorted by the pet parent if out and about in the office,” said Dawn Pyne, brand manager at Embrace. “Having dogs at work has been a positive experience for Embrace, and we truly believe having dogs at work improves productivity and morale.”
For more tips to ensure a successful, safe Take Your Dog To Work Day and to learn more about the event’s history, creator and 2018 sponsors, visit http://www.petsit.com/takeyourdog. PSI also offers a free downloadable Take Your Dog To Work Day Toolkit, which includes a sample dog-friendly work policy, at http://www.petsit.com/toolkit.
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