Explore what to consider when piloting pets being allowed in the office
Bringing pets into the office can boost morale and offer some cool health benefits for owners. Not only is it a bonus for employees not to have to worry about their pet at home, but employers can potentially see the benefit through employee retention and loyalty. As with anything having to do with pets, bringing pets to the office comes with a certain level of responsibility that can’t be understated. Setting boundaries is critical to ensuring a safe, healthy work environment for us and our four-legged friends.
As much as we love breeds of all weights and sizes, sometimes there are considerations to look into when welcoming pets into a space with others. For offices, as with apartments, landlords and businesses want to limit their liability. Sometimes, the breed and weight of an animal can contribute to higher liability.
For example, many homeowner insurance companies ban breeds like Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, and Chow Chows to name a few. While there isn’t always a blanket ban—and many insurance providers instead operate on a case-by-case basis—breed restrictions are prevalent. Other commonly banned breeds include:
Beyond the breed conversation, there’s also size considerations. Smaller offices have less space and the bigger an animal is, the more space they need. Simply put, the discussion on pet may may only come into play when the office is short on space.
Animals are amazing companions and we want them around for as long as possible. Their health has to be a priority and that requires regular vet visits. At a minimum, pet policies in the office should require annual vet check-ups for pets. These visits are similar to a person’s physical exam once a year to make sure everything is as it should be. If anything “off” is found during a vet visit, it allows vets and owners to create a treatment plan for the pet in question.
On top of that, pets in close quarters with one another and with people creates another discussion: spreadable illness. There are plenty of illnesses that can be passed from dog-to-dog like canine distemper, canine influenza, kennel cough, and leptospirosis.
On top of that, zoonotic illnesses—those that can pass from animal to human—are also something we want to avoid entirely. Doing that requires a mix of regular health check-ups and vaccinations. Vaccinations can be confusing due to the specific timing around them, but for the sake of this article we’ll break them down into those that are required for dogs no matter their lifestyle and those that are geographically or risk-specific.
The American Animal Hospital Association provides guidance on what vaccines are considered core, meaning they’re required regardless of where you live. We want to note that some states and even specific counties or apartment complexes can have requirements for vaccines that owners should pay attention to. For our sake, the core vaccines that all dogs should get are:
The list of core cat vaccinations includes feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, & panleukopenia (FVRCP), rabies, and feline leukemia virus (FeLV).
Just because a vaccine isn’t considered “core” doesn’t mean it isn’t important to research and look into for your pet. These vaccines create more immunity from other potential illnesses that your pet could be exposed to. While many depend on location or lifestyle, non-core vaccinations can only help.
Non-core vaccinations for cats include protection against:
“Vaccinations are important for pets because it can decrease the risk of illness for diseases pets can be commonly exposed to. This can help decrease veterinary costs and visits. Vaccines can also help decrease stress of being worried illness in pets.” - Dr. Dwight Alleyne
Unless an animal is being used to breed future generations, altering pets can be the most responsible choice. Why? Dogs have a sex drive as much as any other animal and when unaltered they are more likely to act on it. A few short months later and there can be a whole litter of puppies to deal with. Not only that, but animal overpopulation is a genuine problem, especially since there are almost 6 million homeless dogs in the United States.
In terms of health benefits, studies have shown that altered animals live longer on average. Spaying female dogs (and cats!) can lower their risk for certain diseases like breast cancer or illnesses like urinary tract infections. Male dogs and cats have a reduced likelihood of testicular cancer. On top of that, an animal's behavior can see a positive shift. When altered, the sex hormones in an animal decrease resulting in fewer frustrating mating-related actions like spraying, urine-marking, or even roaming.
In the office, behavior matters for people; it should also matter for the animals as well. Office pet policies can consider a stipulation requiring animals to be altered in order to be welcomed into the office. On top of that, there should be standards of behavior that pets are held to regardless of whether they’re fixed or not.
Alterations to animals can be expensive at times, though the Humane Society does have a database to find financial-assistance programs in the United States to help support owners. One way that offices can support their employees while sticking to their guidelines would be to offer assistance to those who want to alter their pet but don’t have the financial means to do so. Or, companies can partner with vet services for a group discount. This can go a long way in creating positive associations between a company and its employees.
As we mentioned previously, pet behavior is an important consideration in an office pet policy. Not only for the benefit of other dogs and the safety and wellbeing of people, but it is a workplace after all. People need to be able to concentrate. One way to potentially ensure that owners and their pets follow office rules would be through the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen certificate. It’s a training program and certificate that teaches good manners to dogs and responsible dog ownership to pet parents.
Examples of poor behavior in an office include:
If you want to better understand all of the fundamentals, explore the behavior & training section of our website for more.
Accidents happen, but preparation can make them a lot less messy to clean up. Having a cleaning station and cleaning products handy can make a world of difference as it allows pet parents quick and easy access to clean things themselves. Plus, if an office is the keeper of the keys to the cleaning products, they can choose pet-safe products that aren’t inherently dangerous to anyone in the office (pet or human) and won’t cause a chemical reaction (never mix bleach and vinegar!).
Even if the office doesn’t provide products for owners, there should still be a requirement for all pet messes to be cleaned up quickly without fanfare. It ensures a safe, clean, and healthy environment for all.
First, we recommend that individuals contact an attorney for specific legal advice and information. We’re simply painting a picture that there is legal liability in welcoming pets into an office and what those considerations may be for office managers and companies.
The most important thing to do is to explore the company's current insurance plan and the renter’s insurance for companies who lease space in a building. Look at any breed or species exclusions as well as off-premises liability, which just means a company wouldn’t be held responsible for something that happens off-property, such as across the street at the park. There’s also a dog history consideration. Some insurances won’t cover an incident involving an animal with a known history. That’s why it’s advised that all animals that come to the office have a pet resume.
Employees should also sign a pet waiver which is risk mitigation for the company should anything happen while a pet is in the office. That document can also set boundaries and make all policies and requirements clear to pet owners, further emphasizing that a pet owner is fully responsible for their pet.
Embarking on writing a pet policy for the office can be difficult and encompasses a great deal of information. If you happen to forget anything, addendums can be made. But we’re including other nice-to-have considerations that can further strengthen the employee/employer relationship.
Treats should be made available throughout the office for people to dole out to pets. It’s also best to have a label on what type of treat it is so pet parents can decide whether or not that’s a good fit for their pet.
Pets need to go out, and someone has to take them! Allowing break times for owners to take pets out can prevent bathroom accidents and too much pent-up energy. These breaks should also be extended to those who don’t have pets as a gesture of goodwill.
Even for those who love pets, a full office can be a lot. Pet-free days can give individuals a much needed break and on the flip side, pet-friendly days can give pet owners the relief of knowing their pet is nearby. These can be done in whatever cadence is preferred and perhaps is something to consider a few weeks into making the office pet-friendly to better determine how many animals come and with what frequency.
Some people don’t like pets and others are allergic. Both are totally okay and valid reasons for not wanting to be around pets. For pet-friendly offices, it can be helpful to offer those individuals hybrid options for days when pets are in the office. Another idea is to have pet-free areas of the office where those individuals can work without interference from pets.
A dedicated dog park or bathroom area can prevent any unfortunate accidents or ruination of landscaping. This can also ensure that pets keep to one area outdoors.
A reasonable and thorough pet policy for the office can remove any surprise from the situation and start everyone out on the same level playing field. Bringing pets into the office is exciting and fun, but it does require planning and continued vigilance. It’s also a moment to be respectful and considerate to those who aren’t pet people or those who literally can’t be due to allergies. Pets in the office are a privilege, not a right, and employers and employees who can agree on that will find themselves in a better position to enjoy their furry friends’ company at work.
