Take Your Dog to Work Day
by Michael Schaffer

As a writer who works from home, I mark Take Your Dog to Work Day every day. Friday, though, was the 10th annual national observance of the non-holiday. I think the growth of participation is one of many examples–from airline frequent flyer miles for traveling pets to restaurant doggie bowls for diners accompanied by Chihuahuas–of how the country is becoming increasingly pet-friendly. This, in turn, is all evidence for the major trend I focus on in my book: The social promotion of pets from mere Best Friends to full-fledged members of the family. You might not make residential or employment or even dining decisions on behalf of the buddy who lives in the doghouse in your back yard. But you will when it’s a family member who sleeps in your bed and, increasingly, gets blessed with a popular human-baby name like Jake or Max or Bella.

As I write, these phenomena aren’t universal, but the trend lines are pointing in one direction. When I first started looking for a Take Your Dog To Work Day event to visit, I imagined they’d all be in yuppie businesses, like those internet firms with the in-office ping pong and the free Diet Cokes. In fact, the biggest event near me was at a highway services firm in Northeast Pennsylvania, about the opposite of a yuppie office.  The boss told me they might make it permanent, as the presence of pets boosted morale. It’s not just for San Francisco dogs anymore.

Of course, as a guy who spent his share of time contemplating Marxist social science texts, I should note that one major advantage from the management point of view is that dogs at the office means dog-owners aren’t hustling to get home in time for the early-evening walk. Having Fido around–I mean Jake or Bella–may also prove an extra way to wring some labor from dog-smitten hirelings…

PS: Bonus TYDTWD footage from North Carolina is here.