Pets will be working like dogs on Friday

Usually the biggest decision Kimberly Muszynski makes before heading off to work each morning is what to have for breakfast.

But Friday, she's got to decide between Sasha and Maggie -- which of her two dogs are going to accompany her.

"I'll probably bring Sasha because she does more tricks and can entertain the customers," she said. "But it may come down to who's behaving that morning, I guess."

It's not just Muszynski's Oreck Sales and Service Center store in Naperville, but workplaces nationwide are participating in Pet Sitters International's 10th annual Take Your Dog to Work Day.

Organizers hope customers at participating businesses will become so enamored with someone else's pooch that they'll consider getting one of their own.

"We use the event to encourage and promote pet adoption," said Pet Sitters spokeswoman Beth Stultz. "It's a fun day for everyone, so it's win-win."

Christian Faure, who owns a technology consulting business in Lisle, said the workday is more enjoyable with one of his dogs at his side.

"It changes the work environment," he said. "It makes it more friendly, and the dogs would rather be with their human friend; you just have to choose the right dog. Last year I brought the big one, and he's a bit of a barker."

Of course, not everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Whether it's liability or health-related issues, many workplaces can't accommodate canine companionship.

With more than 1,000 employees at its Batavia campus, Fermilab spokesman Kurt Riesselmann said it could get "very loud if everyone brought their dog."

"We do have an area on site where people, not just employees, can bring their dog and take them off the leash, so we try to be very accommodating to dog owners," he said. "But not all dogs are friendly with one another, so that would be one concern. This is probably something that suits smaller companies."

Mount Prospect Pet Sitters owner Anna Doyle Cronin found it ironic the group sponsoring the event relies on people not taking their dogs to work.

"In my case, if the dogs go to work with their owners, I don't get paid," she laughed. "That's what I'm in business for, not to sit around at the house and twiddle my fingers."

But folks who routinely bring their pets with them to work recommend it.

"It's not as easy as leaving him at home because he's still a dog and he needs to be watched, but the benefit outweighs whatever work I have to put into it," said Lynn Allison, child care director at Condell Hospital Day Center in Libertyville. "The smiles he brings to everybody is well worth it. You just have to watch him around the lunch cart."

The fact that Allison's labradoodle Trooper is hypo-allergenic helps. Allergies are often cited as a reason businesses don't participate in the event. Smaller businesses with few on-site customer visits are also ideal participants in the annual event.

Noreen Lyndly began bringing her dog Nico to her Oak Brook property management office several years ago. Now people miss the 130-pound female Rottweiler when she's not there.

"I'll admit she intimidates people who don't know her at first, which can be good when I'm working here by myself sometimes," she said. "We get some funny responses from people who don't know her, but really she's like a Wal-Mart greeter."

Lyndly said having Nico at work relieves much of the stress she felt about leaving her dog home alone.

"People tell me all the time they wish they could bring their dogs to work so they wouldn't have to worry about them all day," she said.

Loretta Wilger-Asmus said it was commonplace when she was living in Europe to see co-workers toting their pooches around with them. When she opened Looks Salon in Naperville, it wasn't long before her purebred Chihuahua, Lily, was accompanying her most days to the salon. She also found Lily had a special talent.

"The clients love her and will ask for her," she said. "We work with cancer patients at our office, and I will bring her out to greet them and it changes the whole atmosphere. She helps take their minds off their problems a little."