Pet-Friendly College Welcomes all Furry Friends to Campus
From time to time, Green River is not only buzzing with faculty and students but also little joyful balls of fur.
Green River is a pet-friendly institute, and some faculty members choose to bring their pets with them to the college. Some faculty bring their pups on random days of the week, but many like to bring their pets specifically on Fridays. “Every Friday, Sable’s ready for her treat,” said Karl Hamilton, a security guard for the college. Hamilton keeps dog treats in his booth in the parking lot for those who bring their pets to campus.
When dogs are brought into the Lindbloom Student Union, “It’s like a magnet,” Hamilton said, as people tend to crowd around to pet the dogs.
A 2012 Study by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found that “employees with dogs at work experienced a decline in stress, while those without their dog present or those who did not own a pet experienced an increase in stress levels.”
Pets are not only a good stress reliever, but can even help those who may be having a rough day.
“It was a cool experience for me to witness my puppy giving comfort to someone who was having a bad day and them leaving my office feeling better,” Toya Turner said, from International Programs and Extended Learning, who brought her dog Bumblebee with her to the college when she was a puppy in September, October, and November of last year. She will be bringing Bumblebee back once she completes her obedience training.
As beneficial as pets can be in the workplace, it is notable that some may have problems with animals due to the pets being a distraction, allergies, or religious beliefs. Dogs brought to campus or any public setting should be people-friendly and well behaved so that they do not cause a distraction.
“If there is a student who has a problem with me bringing my dog to class I will never ever bring her,” said John Knowlton, who heads the college’s journalism program. “It is my students’ class, not my dog’s.”
Green River is unquestionably a pet-friendly workplace, as President Suzanne Johnson is even known to have dog treats in her office.
As well as reducing their owners stress in the workplace, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that the benefits of owning a pet include:
Toya R. Turner and Bumblebee:
Why do you choose to bring your pet with you to work?
“I brought Bumblebee in to work not only because it’s convenient for me as I go home at lunchtime to let her out of the crate to play for a bit, but when I told my coworkers and students that I had a new puppy they were ecstatic to meet her and insisted I bring her into the office.”
What is your favorite part about bringing your pet to work?
“I can’t tell you how much joy Bumblebee brought to the office. Smiles all around from staff and students, they couldn’t get enough of her. Not only did she boost smiles in the office, she gave comfort to staff who were having a bad day. I had a coworker come in and ask to have snuggle time with Bumblebee, just five minutes of puppy love did wonders for their soul. It was a cool experience for me to witness my puppy giving comfort to someone who was having a bad day and them leaving my office feeling better.”
Adrienne Battle and Hooke:
Why do you choose to bring your pet with you to work?
“I bring Hooke to work because I can’t afford not to—I don’t have a yard, and I can’t afford a pet sitter or dog walker. I work long hours (at least nine hours a day, some days 14) so he can’t stay home without me.”
What is your favorite part about bringing your pet to work?
“My favorite part about bringing Hooke to work is simply having a dog around. I love animals, and Hooke makes me smile even when I’m having a bad day. Before I had him, I never went into the woods and rarely left my building, but now I walk in the woods every day. I’ve met a lot of people that I have no work-related reason to talk to. Hooke draws people in and everybody wants to know more about him. It’s helped me with his training; I get lots of short breaks during the day to work with him on his therapy dog training, which I could not do if he stayed at home.”
Keith Clay and Nemo:
Why do you choose to bring your pet with you to work?
“When I first got my dog, he was too young to live on his own for long periods of time. So, I brought him to work. The two of us were used to it, as were my colleagues and students. He doesn’t bother people much, and many students and staff enjoy his company.”
What is your favorite part about bringing your pet to work?
“I suppose my favorite thing about having him at work is that he doesn’t get stressed out about things that might stress me out. He reminds me to go and take breaks, go outside, and relax.”
John Knowlton and Sable:
Why do you choose to bring your pet with you to work?
“Because Sable is family, and almost everyone who comes in contact with her loves her. It lightens and brightens their day. Faculty members are training her, giving her treats, and always asking me about her.”
What is your favorite part about bringing your pet to work?
“I love how so many others love on her, and how she seems to brighten everyone’s day. She’s a happy, loving girl who seems to put a smile on most people’s faces. I like that people appreciate how smart she is. Last week she beat me at scrabble!”
