All pets can participate!

Best practices for bringing your pet to work:

If your pet will be coming into work with you, be sure to keep these best practices in mind.

Get permission first. Always get permission before bringing any pet—regardless of species—to work during Take Your Pet To Work Week. Check with management and co-workers to see if anyone is allergic, afraid of or opposed to you bringing your pet to work during this special week. Be respectful of those you work with and plan an alternate celebration, if necessary. Your workplace can use our Take Your Pet To Work Week participation form if needed. Not able to bring any pet to work? Consider posting your pet’s picture in your office or cubicle, or even plan a funny pet photo or video contest with your co-workers as another way to celebrate instead.

Schedule your participation with other co-workers. If your company is participating, the event coordinator should know which co-workers will be bringing in what types of pets—and on what day. Depending on your pet type, plan accordingly. If your pet is uncomfortable around or hasn’t been exposed to specific pet types, schedule your pet to come in on a different day during the week. Regardless of your pet type, you know your pet best—and if they will experience anxiety or discomfort being in a new environment, you should choose an alternate way to celebrate.

Keep your pet comfortable. To make your participation a success, don’t forget your pet’s comforts of home. Your needed supplies will vary depending on the type of pet you will bring with you, but be sure you have your pet’s food, some type of habitat/carrier/bed, and other toys or supplies that may be needed.

Avoid forcing co-workers to interact with your pet. Remember, pet lovers will make themselves known, but you do need a way to keep your pet in your workspace unless management and co-workers have agreed to allow participating pets to roam freely. This may mean keeping your office door closed and then having your pet in some type of carrier or using a harness/leash (depending on pet type) when you allow him or her to explore your workplace.

Participate with a purpose. As with Take Your Dog To Work Day and Take Your Cat To Work Day, the purpose behind Take Your Pet To Work Week is to highlight the wonderful companions these pets make and to promote their adoptions. Think of ways to give back to your pet community through your participation. Could you invite a local pet rescue or animal shelter to visit your office to show off pets available for adoption, or use your event as a way to raise funds for a local organization that helps pets looking for their forever homes?

Have an exit strategy. With pre-planning it’s likely that you and your pet will enjoy Take Your Pet To Work Week, but have a plan in place in case your pet shows signs of stress or decides their not interested in being at work with you. Take them home or plan in advance for your professional pet sitter to transport your pet home at a certain time. Never, under any circumstance, leave your pet alone in a vehicle while you work.