Pets in the workplace bring stress-relief, better morale, and a more enjoyable workday. Whether you’re setting up a pet-friendly workplace, celebrating National Pets at Work Day on April 19th, or introducing occasional bring-your-pet days, keep these five tips in mind for pet-proofing to keep both human and four-legged coworkers safe and comfortable.

• Set boundaries with gates and crates. Even the friendliest workplace pets need space of their own, whether they’re sharing the office with other dogs or cats, or just need a quiet place to nap while their pet parent takes important meetings. Physical barriers also limit your pet’s access to areas that cannot be pet-proofed, like storage areas, warehouses, and work areas with tools and equipment. Pet gates, dog crates, and tiered cages for cats are invaluable for safely setting boundaries in workspaces.
• Manage access to food and snacks. Cats and especially dogs are curious around food and may not be able to resist gulping down an unattended sandwich or dunking a paw into a cup of coffee. It may be necessary to instill boundaries to ensure that pets are not roaming around breakrooms, lunch rooms, and trash cans, and to ask coworkers to be mindful of food, snacks, or beverages left in uncovered or accessible containers. Popular office fare like chocolate, grapes, raisins, coffee, gum, and certain types of nuts are toxic to pets and should never be left within reach. Also keep pets away from live office plants, medications, and other hazards.
• Stock up on cleaning supplies. Where there are pets, there are bound to be puddles. An accessible stock of enzymatic pet stain cleaner, paper towels, and waste bags should be available to make it easy for pet parents to take responsibility of any messes their dog or cat makes.
• Create a pet-friendly outdoor break area. Dogs and puppies need around one to three walks during the average 8-hour workday, not just for a quick potty break, but also to stretch their legs and run off any extra energy so they’ll be on their best behavior throughout the day. A fenced-in, grassy mini dog park with benches is great for dogs and their pet parents to spend their lunch breaks, but if that’s not possible, any well-maintained area with grass would work. Pet owners will need to commit to picking up any poop or trash to keep the outdoor space safe and enjoyable for all canine coworkers.
• Set up the pets’ own workplace “water cooler” Dogs and cats should always have access to fresh, clean water. Water bowls may get in the way and can easily tip over in a busy office setting. Water fountains are easy to maintain even in multi-pet offices and tend to be more spill-resistant than a water bowl.

VISION

Every pet deserves to live a long, happy, healthy life