Mark your calendars!

National Take Your Dog to Work Day, a holiday that started in 1999 to celebrate and promote pet adoption, is June 24th, but before you invite your four-legged friend to join your morning commute, take some time to plan and ensure that the day is safe and enjoyable for your dog and your coworkers alike.

Consider your coworkers

Talk to your coworkers before the big day.  Make sure no one near your desk is afraid of or severely allergic to dogs.  Consider your dog’s typical habits, and how they might affect others in your office.  If your Yorkie barks incessantly every time the phone rings at home, he might not make the best officemate.  In this case, it might be more appropriate to bring your dog in for a brief greeting in the morning, and plan to return him back home before any significant workday meetings begin. Does your dog get along well with others?  Be aware of other coworkers who plan to bring their own dogs.  Use your best judgment to decide if your pet will be able to handle the number, breed, and proximity of others in attendance that day.

Practice good office etiquette

No matter how well behaved your pooch is at home, sometimes a complete change of environment can really challenge their attention and memory.  Before the big day, work with Fido’s ability to maintain good manners by practicing simple commands such as sit, stay, and come.  Try out these behaviors at a park or mall area, which offer sufficient distractions to test your dog’s concentration.  Also remember that it is important to keep consistent communication with your dog, even in highly stimulating spaces.

Prepare a dog-friendly space

Bring a sense of familiarity into your office to help this environmental transition.  Pack your pup’s favorite bed, toy, or towel, and plenty of healthy treats. But make sure the treats are not too pungent; biscuits or all-natural fruit-based snacks will have a much more office-friendly aroma than other pepperoni or bacon flavored treats.
Make sure your dog has access to fresh water all day.  Your coworkers will thank you for using a bowl that will not tip over or make noise.  Try a bowl with a non-skid rubber base, and place it far away from foot traffic.
Working with your pet to accommodate individual needs will ensure that your day goes as smoothly as possible.  Whether you plan to bring your pet for a quick tour, or an all-day stay, prepare to be flexible.

Please encourage pet adoption and help our four legged friends with no homes.

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs: First alluded to in poet Jonathan Swift’s 1710 satirical poem, “A Description of a City Shower” in which he denounced the horrid conditions in London society and described how the bodies of cats and dogs would stream down the streets during heavy rains.

The Dog Days of Summer: Ancient Romans noticed the Dog Star, Sirius, appeared in the sky when temperatures reached their peak in late July and early August. They believed that the Dog Star contributed to the heat of the day.

The Cat’s Pajamas: First used around 1920 when pajamas were still a shocking new addition to one’s wardrobe, this phrase is used to describe something that is “great.” Much  like the word “awesome” is used today. Similar expressions originating in the 1920′s include – the bee’s knees, the clam’s garders, the duck’s quack and the tiger’s spots.

Hair of the Dog that Bit You: Ancient folk wisdom taught that the best remedy for a dog bite was to apply hair from the same dog to the wound.

Has the Cat Got Your Tongue: This saying came from the English sailing ship days, and refers to the cat-o-nine tails. If the captain or other officer told someone something in secrecy, he would ‘get the cat’ if he told others. Naturally, if the others wanted to know what had been said, they would ask, “Tell us, or has the cat got your tongue?”

At the top of many holiday gift lists each year is a new puppy, dog, kitten or cat.  One great way to celebrate the holidays is to help a furry friend in need.  Pet adoption is affordable and will make such a difference to your family.

If you’re thinking of adopting a pet, animal shelters are a fantastic option.  Before you adopt a pet, please remember that adopting and caring for a companion animal goes far beyond providing food, water and shelter – it is a lifelong commitment to provide exercise, healthy nourishment, attention, and, most importantly, love.

Before adopting a pet this holiday season, please consider the following tips:

Invest time in researching what is the best pet for you and your family.  Talk to family members about what kind of pet they want. Take the opportunity to openly discuss everyone’s likes and dislikes, favorite activities, budget, and time available for pet care. If you have small children, large dogs may be too strong or active.  Evaluate where you live – in an apartment or a home with no yard or in an area with busy traffic, as those types of questions will be a consideration for making your pet choice decision. There are great resources online like petfinder or fetchdog where you can research different breeds and sizes of dogs and cats in your local area, and find a pet that will fit well into your existing family and lifestyle.

If you are getting a pet for your children, do not expect the kiddies to do all the work. Children, no matter how mature, need supervision and help handling the responsibility of a cat or dog. Ultimately, the adult/parent is responsible. Prior to adoption, teach your children about responsible pet ownership, and make sure they are ready for the changes a new pet will bring in to the household.  Learn about pet care, and explain to your children that some dog breeds need to be walked several times a day or daily cleaning of a cat’s litter box will be expected.

Make sure a pet suits your family dynamic, size of home, and your lifestyle. Your personality and lifestyle, along with challenges such as space restrictions and the amount of time your family spends at home should be explored to determine which pet is right for you.

Prior to adoption, have items like natural dog food, dog bowls, leashes, a crate or bed, and all-natural meat treats or vegetable dog treats on-hand.

You will discover that the reward of adoption this holiday season is the feeling you will get from knowing you helped save a life and a new dog or cat that is eternally thankful.

• Only 3 Calories
• All Natural
• Made small to reward your dog often during training
• Easy to chew for older dogs
• Ingredients sourced from the USA as well as manufacturing

  
Charlee Bear Dog Treats are all natural treats which contain only 3 calories along with the great taste of liver. Your dog will find them irresistible! These treats were purposely made small so you can reward your dog often. Ideal for training!

• Durham wheat (a pasta wheat)
• Liver (poultry liver preserved naturally with vitamin E)
• Salt (1 tablespoon per 100 pounds)
• Garlic Powder

Guaranteed Analysis:

• Min. Crude Protein: 20.0%
• Min. Crude Fat: 3.0%
• Max. Crude Fiber: 5.0%
• Max. Moisture: 10.0%