Paintadog!

This is a somewhat Sydney-centric post, but it is a beautiful idea shared by a friend. It encourages artists, it supports bushfire recovery, and it celebrates dogs. So I am posting it here.

Paintadog

Paint and help us make history! Enter the first ever Blackheath village dog art competition in Springtime 2020

Do you have a dog? Enjoy painting? Then be part of a history-making event and enter a painting of your dog, or someone else’s dog in the inaugural

Blackheath PAINTADOG competition.

The competition is open to everyone across New South Wales and will be judged in two categories: Children up to 15 years and adults.

Submissions can be drawn or painted, and must be mounted, but unframed. Initially copies of works must be submitted through our website www.paintadog.com.au with your entry form. As our space is limited we can only accept the first one hundred works from each category.

Entry to the exhibition is free and opens 11 am on Saturday October 3^rd  2020.  Judging will be by a well-known local artist

A non refundable entry fee to the competition, adults $20 children $5. All profits from Paintadog will be donated to The Blackheath Rhododendrum Park, which was badly affected by the 2019-2020 bush fires.

Entries will open Monday 24^th August 2020 and close on Friday 24^th September 2020 Please fill out the entry form on our website and scan with your painting.

Prizes: $750 for the adult winner, $250 for The People's Choice, four $100  for the children's category. Information about other prizes from local businesses and councils, will be available closer to the date on our website.

There will be a dog parade, weather permitting.

We recommend you book your accommodation early, to avoid disappointment. There are many pet friendly Airbnb's, Stayz etc.. in and around Blackheath. A list of these will be posted on our website: www.paintadog.com.au closer to the time.

With thanks to The Blue Mountains Bush Fire Recovery Program

The RSL Blackheath

The RFS Blackheath

Jenny ward Communications Director

Henry Collins

More sponsors will be .published closer to the date

Pets and aged care

Hero and I have been getting a lot of mileage out of this cardboard box, which - surprisingly - is still standing.

Last year my friend and colleague Dr Stephanie Ward took part in an amazing television program called Old People’s Home for 4-Year-Olds. If you have not seen it, this is quite an amazing series based on a simple question: does putting older people together with younger people benefit one or both groups, and how?

You can watch the five-part series here.

One statistic I cannot forget, delivered in the first episode by the inspirational Professor Sue Kurrle (watch one of her fabulously engaging talks here), is that 40 per cent of people in aged care don’t get visitors. FORTY PER CENT.

This is a figure that I continue to reflect on in the light of Covid-19, which has seen severe restrictions that have unintentionally but disproportionately impacted vulnerable people and their carers. It is especially painful on days like today, Mother’s Day, when a lot of families would have planned to visit their elderly relatives.

Companionship is critical. Humans need it. Companion animals need it, and we can mutually benefit. Yet many older people have to give up their companion animals when they enter care, and both animals and humans suffer when they are parted. Pets and Positive Aging is one organisation that advocates for the recognition of the bond between people and our pets as we age, and they’ve recently updated their website.  

They’ve developed a Pet Plan that should be completed in case of emergency by those living with companion animals. 

Of course there are many people out there – family members, friends, neighbours – supporting people to care for their animals, whether it’s a helpful lift to the vet, a daily dog walk, minding or feeding an animal while an owner is in hospital, or someone happy to pick up some more supplies when they’re on a run to the shops. Every single act of kindness like that makes a difference.

Goodbye Phil.

Phil, captured by My Dog's Territory. 

It is in a state of not-quite-acceptance that I post that my dog Phil died yesterday. It feels surreal. He was a very senior dog (how senior I will never know – although I would estimate a solid 16 and possibly beyond). He had multiple co-morbidities, and he was well compensated until yesterday when he crashed.

Somewhat poetically, the very day before, Phil became part of a First Dog on the Moon cartoon which I feel is important to share here. Its hard to write anything beyond that right now. Except to say that the void he has left is disproportionately larger than his 1.8kg form. And he was loved beyond measure.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/27/a-random-selection-of-nice-things-according-to-our-lovely-readers-you

Goodbye, Michael

Michael (left) with a younger Hero - the first moment they sat together.

Today’s post has been extremely difficult for me to write.

Less than a week ago I said goodbye to Michael, the cat I’ve cohabited with for most of my adult life. At 17 years and 7 months old, after several years of very stable, well-managed chronic kidney disease, Mike got worse. Her appetite reduced over the last few weeks, and despite medication, fluids and lots of TLC her quality of life took a nosedive very quickly.

It was paramount to me that she did not suffer. She died in her family’s arms, in a room full of people she loved and who loved her. She was a uniquely outgoing cat – she would approach visitors (one – a cat lover – said she could be “intimidating” in her enthusiasm!). She chased large dogs out of the house. She would solicit a chin scratch or belly rub from anyone. Inspect any suitcase/handbag/backpack or shopping bag. Conquer paper bags and cardboard boxes. Go through the groceries before they were put away.

Boxes were also fair game.

I adopted her when I was a veterinary student undertaking a volunteer, live-in position in a local veterinary hospital. At just four months old she had been picked up by a good Samaritan, having attempted to cross the treacherous Parramatta Road by herself. She was put up for adoption, but quickly moved into my bedroom.

I did a cursory examination and thought she was a boy. I named her after Detective Mike Hoolihan, the lead character in the Martin Amis novel I was reading at the time: TheNight Train. This was fortuitous. Detective Mike Hoolihan was female – as Mike turned out to be.

She put up with a lot of time away on my part doing prac work, sat in on study groups (sat on where possible), and was always there at home when I was working long hours to comfort me after a day at work.

When the vet clinic I was living in was broken into, she was the one who woke me, with her hackles up and her coat so puffed up she looked twice her size. She was growling at the door and ready to take on the intruder, who fortunately fled the scene.

She’s moved house with me, supported me through several intensive periods of study, and motivated me to try to improve the world for companion and non-companion animals alike.

I really believe that until her last day she enjoyed a life worth living. It was the right time to let her go, although being in a home without her feels empty. She would normally wake me. Realising his food source was sleeping in, Hero eventually woke me this morning and we both looked for Mike. Normally Michael would herd me down the hallway and into the kitchen. It was always about food, except when her kidney disease really kicked in. In the last few months she would usher me into the bathroom first, demand I fill the bath a little with cold water, and have a drink before breakfast. And then chase that with a glass of water on the coffee table, before heading back to bed.

Like other cats with kidney disease, Mike was constantly drinking. She preferred drinking from glass - preferably someone else's.

There are a hundred daily routines she won’t be part of anymore and each one, right now, is an unexpectedly painful reminder of her absence.

Grief is a very personal thing and people experience it differently. Losing someone after almost 18 years, someone I connected with on a daily basis in a very real and tactile way, is hard. Being a vet possibly made the decision easier, and I was able to euthanase her myself, respecting her preferences. She deserved that – she put in at least as many hours in the study as I did over the years (if she wasn’t in the kitchen, we’d say “Mike is in the office, doing the hard yards…).

If you could learn by osmosis by sleeping on textbooks, Michael would have been an honorary professor by now.

But it hasn’t made grieving any easier, nor has knowing she was old and “had a good innings”. Despite what I know about grief, I think I really thought it would. 

In our work, veterinarians experience the loss of patients far more frequently than doctors do, but it doesn’t give us mastery over grief.

I’ve been flooded with memories. Michael, the times we lived through, the patients she met and comforted, and the losses she comforted me through. The friendly head-butts, the gentle paw in the face to get me up in the morning. All I could do the day she died was look at every Michael photo I had. She was in the midst of every family gathering. She put up with Hero through his annoying kittenhood phase. She helped teach veterinary students – she appeared (photographically) as a case study in classes, her tufts of discarded fur were donated to a research project on humane rodent deterrence. She spent much time being warmed by this very keyboard and it still contains tiny traces of her fur.

A colleague sent me a paper about the dual process model of grieving, which holds that we tend to oscillate between loss-orientated and restoration-orientated processes for a while, and I’ve found myself fluttering about in this space. Loss-oriented processes are things like grief work, intrusion of grief, denial/avoidance of restoration and breaking bonds or ties. Things like poring over old photos or formally recording Mike as deceased on the Companion Animal Register. Restoration-oriented processes include attending to life changes, distraction from grief, doing new things, and establishing new roles, identities or relationships(Williams and Green, 2016). This is the bit I am working on at the moment, but its still a bit raw. A veterinary colleague who lost his dog late last year said to me "its like feeling demyelinated". 

In Michael’s honour I am raising funds for the Cat Protection Society of New South Wales. They do an extraordinary amount of advocacy for cats, from rehoming cats to making important submissions on animal welfare policy. Thousands of cats and kittens have enjoyed better health care and welfare, and avoided suffering, due to their work. Donations over $2 are tax deductable. If you wish to donate you can do so here.

 

UPDATE: before I finished this post, Michael’s page raised over $1500 which was our modest goal. I am so grateful to the people who have donated. If you would like to make a donation to the Cat Protection Society via Michael’s page you can still do so.

Michelle de Kretser, in the Sydney Morning Herald this week wrote a beautiful article about losing her dog Minnie.

You can read the full article here.

I am very grateful for the kind words from clients, colleagues and others who have shared the impact of losing animals they bonded with over the years.

Reference

WILLIAMS, B. & GREEN, R. 2016. Understanding bereavement in animal owners. In Practice, 38, 140.

Should pets be allowed on public transport?

Dogs like Chiana would get out and about more if they could travel (with their owners) on public transport.

If you could travel with your pet on public transport, would you consider giving up your car? According to a study by Jennifer Kent and Corinne Mulley, a number of Sydney-dwelling dog owners would consider relinquishing their private vehicle if they were able to travel with their pets on public transport.

The study, published in Transportation Research Part A, included a survey of 1257 Sydney-based dog owners. It confirmed that because dogs are prohibited on most forms of public transport in Sydney (they can be transported on a bus, if contained, and at the discretion of the driver), dog owners have no alternative but to drive on non-walkable, dog-related trips.

That includes trips to dog walking spaces, dog-friendly cafes and bars, and visiting family and friends, as well as trips to the vet.

The Annandale Hotel is one pub advertising its canine-friendly facilities.

I must admit that I don’t frequently peruse the pages of Transportation Research Part A, but this paper is hard to put down. There is an acknowledged need in Sydney, like other cities, to reduce traffic and its associated environmental costs. At the same time, urban planners seek to promote the well-being of citizens and engagement with recreational spaces. Reducing people’s dependence on cars – by providing excellent public transport – is one way to do this. But we also need to ensure that public transport is accessible and meets people’s needs. Its a human and animal welfare issue.

The authors found that each household made an average of 3.8 dog-related trips by car each week. Considering there are 4.9 people living in Sydney, and 1.6 million households, 39 per cent which comprise at least one canine, that is a possible 2.4 million dog related trips – by car – each week. 

This includes trips to the vet, 86 per cent of which are by car. Concerningly, 13.9 per cent of dog owners surveyed said that lack of transport had prevented them from taking their dog to the vet in the last 12 months.

This certainly resonates with my experience. We have a number of clients who, living in the city, don’t have space for a car. Some rely on car-share services to get to the vet, but car-share services only provide a certain number of pet-friendly cars – and these are often booked.

Allowing pets on public transport would benefit those animals because it would enable them to accompany owners on trips, and make vet visits they may otherwise not be able to make (or not be able to make without incurring additional expenses). It would benefit owners because it would allow them to enjoy more time outside of their home with their dogs (and for most dogs, that’s good for their mental health).

Indeed, the study found that if pets were allowed on public transport, more than 55 per cent of dog owners would attend additional activities with their dog – and 20 per cent would consider not having a car.

This would benefit the non-pet owning public (and the environment) by reducing the number of dog-related private car trips per week.

Of course, there would need to be some rules and guidelines to ensure the safety and well-being of humans and animals. The authors examined policies of countries and cities where pets are allowed on public transport. Strategies included confining pets to one area of a bus or train carriage, restrictions around travelling during peak periods, and rules about carrying dogs in lifts and on escalators. Most placed limits on dog behaviour by requesting that dogs be accompanied at all times and be on a lead, and/or in control of an owner.

You can read more about the study here, or if you have access download it via Science Direct here.

Where have I been?

Happy New Year! As I mentioned last year, I’m posting less frequently as I am working on a long-term animal welfare project which has necessitated some serious reclaiming of my time. 

One of the biggest things to happen last year was publication of #thevetcookbook, a project put together by Deepa Gopinath, Jenna Moss Davis, Asti May and myself, and produced by the Centre for Veterinary Education. I will post about this further, but there are some (limited) copies available through the Centre for Veterinary Education. You will need to create a profile and login to order a copy online, or you can phone them directly.

I will continue to post on matters related to the veterinary profession and animal welfare from time to time, and I appreciate all of the emails and suggestions.

Charity to help pets of the homeless launches nationally

Pets in the Park provide vital veterinary care for the pets of the homeless and at risk of homeless.

Around 105, 237 people are homeless in Australia, and many live with companion animals. As a regular volunteer for Pets in the Park, I’ve seen the mutual benefit derived by humans and animals in these situations, and the importance of access to veterinary care.

Tomorrow, Pets in the Park – an organisation founded in 2009 – is launching nationally. Yvette Berry MLA, Minister for Housing and Homelessness, and the Honorable Dr. Andrew Leigh MP, Shadow Minister for Charity and Not For Profits, will be speaking at the event to be hosted in the ACT.

Pets in the Park (PITP) will officially launch its community services in the ACT, aimed at helping people in the Canberra area who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness by providing free veterinary care programs for their companion pets.

“For many homeless people, having a pet provides the unconditional love, companionship, emotional support and security that they’re unable to find elsewhere,” PITP Director and founding member Mark Westman said.

“The benefits of this bond between owner and pet are immense; including increased social, emotional and physical health. However, although pet ownership greatly enriches the quality of life of those who are experiencing homelessness, it can at times come at a significant financial cost and result in the forfeiting of personal welfare. This is where Pets in the Park comes in.”

PITP began in Sydney. Today, PITP runs free monthly veterinary clinics in NSW (including a mobile ‘outreach program’ clinic in Sydney), Queensland, Victoria and most recently the ACT.  The monthly clinics operate on the first or last Sunday of every month (depending on the clinic) and are run by a strict client referral system.

The organisation relies on volunteer veterinarians, nurses, students and others to deliver excellent service to people in need. It doesn’t take too much out of your day to make a huge difference to someone’s life, so I’d recommend volunteering. You’ll also meet some amazing people.

The ACT program commenced in April this year as a monthly clinic service in collaboration with the Uniting Church Early Morning Centre in the Canberra CBD.

PITP relies on community donations and the financial support of sponsors and community grants. All donations are 100% tax deductible.  The charity is also supported by veterinary practices that donate surgery space and surgical procedures. Clinics can make a huge difference in this way, whether its donating desexing or other important services like orthopaedics, dentistry, lump removals and so on. 

For more information about PITP, visit www.petsinthepark.org.au or visit PITP on Facebook - PITP NSW, PITP Melbourne, PITP Frankston, PITP Brisbane and PITP Canberra. 

A dog friendly exhibition launch for some amazing canine-inspired art

A canine sculpture, Friends 1, by Anne Field.

There’s something about artwork that features animals…particularly those known personally by the artist. The structure, framing and composition speak volumes about the animal-human relationship.

Not your usual exhibition opening...

If you like animal-oriented art and you’re in Sydney, don’t miss the 5^th annual WOOF! Art Exhibition.

It features paintings, drawings, etchings, mosaics, collages and sculptures of dogs.

A stunning sculpture of a dog with a bee.

Better still, the opening was dog friendly, with many of the artist’s muses attending, somewhat amused about all the fuss but enjoying meeting other subjects.

Socialising at the WOOF! exhibition.

It’s fascinating seeing the different ways people portray the dogs they know and love.

An eclectic collection of canine art.

The exhibition runs from 22 September through to 9 October, and features some beautiful artworks.

What happens to your companion animal if something happens to you?

Are you the only human in your household? Are you the only human in your household who provides care to your companion animal(s)?

Today’s post is on a serious topic, but one worthy of attention. The NSW Trustee and Guardian is the independent executor, administrator, attorney and trustee for the people of New South Wales. They look after people’s affairs when they die, or if they’re otherwise incapacitated.

Unfortunately, every year they hear of pets being left alone when people die without a valid Will, or when people have health issues which make it difficult to communicate with others and tell them about the pets they can no longer take care of.

In response, they’ve developed and are distributing a pet emergency card that you can carry with you. If something happens to you (which of course hopefully it won’t), this card alerts others that you have a pet that needs looking after. It is small enough to be carried in a wallet and contains space to write the pet’s name and who to contact in an emergency.

The card comes attached to a brochure which explains how you can include your pet in your Will, Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship documents – a somber but really important thing to do to ensure that your non-human companions are looked after if you're no longer able to care for them. They're available at some veterinary clinics (including the clinic I work at), animal welfare organisations or direct from the NSW Trustee. These kind of initiatives are designed to minimise suffering and provide continuity of care for animals that depend on us.

For further information visit the NSW Trustee and Guardian at http://www.tag.nsw.gov.au/ or request a copy via

 tagenquiries [at] tag.nsw.gov.au.

Accessorising to save lives - and acknowledge amazing cats and the people who care for them

Cat Protection Society Martyn models the "Zac".

When it comes to animal shelters, cats are seriously over-represented in Australia. They’re much less likely to be reclaimed by their owners than dogs, and many more times likely to be killed.

The Cat Protection Society in Sydney (a no-kill shelter) alone takes in around 1000 cats every year. One of the cats I am fortunate enough to live with, Hero, was one of them. 

The organisation is behind responsible cat ownership (including early age desexing and the importance of being a good neighbour) and the importance of meeting feline welfare needs.

They’ve created a fundraiser, #ninelivesnewtown, which commemorates cats that have been rehomed through their shelter. Some of the most well-known cats re-homed by CPS have been immortalised in a series of nine brooches being sold in their fundraising drive.

The project was the brainchild of CPS Feline Services Manager Nerida Atkin who noted that since everyone is going mad for feline themed accessories right now, they might like jewelry featuring cats with real stories behind them.

Nerida and Bishop, also modelling the "Zac".

And the stories have happy endings.

“The cats have been adopted by loving people, but these cats have all had difficult times,” said Kristina Vesk, CPS CEO.

“Jaffa had a leg amputated, Husky had arthritis and Bella’s eye disease was so severe that both her eyes had to be surgically removed. But Bella bounced back and now shares her life on facebook and Instagram. She and the other cats have all recovered from their challenges and gone on to enjoy full and happy lives.”

Sammi models Bella. 

CPS has also launched a one-minute video clip on YouTube to promote the project, made by Charles Penfold, featuring the very talented Paul Capsis as the voice of Jitu the cat.

“It just takes my breath away that Charles managed to tell the Cat Protection story in one minute: that we’re no-kill, that we love our cats, that we remember them even when they’ve found homes – and that the cats themselves are incredibly resilient and brave,” said Ms Vesk.

You can watch it here. 

Isabella and Raani model the "Bella" and the "Steve and Charlotte".

Brooches are available over the counter at CPS (103 Enmore Road, Newtown) or for $50 online, including postage. 

We LOVE this idea for a fundraiser. Not only does it acknowledge the individual personalities of these cats while promoting awareness about responsible cat ownership, but its just wonderful that an organisation embraced the ideas of people working within it, and really validating of the bond that shelter staff have with animals. And to see the staff modelling the merch is fantastic.

Dogs in hospitals, brain surgery and biosecurity

Have you ever had to have a prolonged stay in hospital?

I recently spent some time with a human family member in a hospital. The staff were wonderful, but hospitals aren’t fun places to be. For a start, the patient is usually feeling anxious about their condition. And that condition is usually making them feel sick, and/or painful. For another thing, the patient has had to leave all their responsibilities at home – including companion animals who they may be missing terribly. And hospital can be a lonely place.

Should dogs be allowed in hospitals? The Royal College of Nursing in the UK has argued that there is scope to allow trained dogs on certain wards, and author Michele Hanson agrees. Read more here.

We’ve been reading neurosurgeon Henry Marsh’s books, Do No Harm and Admissions, a fascinating and scary-but-can’t-look-away insight into the challenges and grave responsibilities of brain surgery. If you don’t have time to read the books, you can listen to his interview with RichardFiedler here.

Are you a veterinarian who treats backyard livestock (this includes chickens)? The NSW Department of Primary Industries, Animal Health Australia and the AVA have teamed up to create an online course, which includes information on protecting staff and clients from zoonoses and other risks, and information about working with Government vets in disease surveillance. The course is free of charge and is open to veterinarians. For instructions on how to enrol, visit this site.

Needed: non-dog owners to help science

This may seem like a strange question, but do you not own a dog? You may just be able to contribute to a very important study about dog ownership.

Researchers at the University of Sydney are conducting a world-first study examining the impact of dog ownership on health and happiness, and they need some help.

But first, a bit of background:

Almost 2 in 5 Australian households own a dog, resulting in one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. However, dog ownership is complex and we still do not know what makes a good dog-owner pair. Despite the popular perception that owning a dog is good for you there is surprisingly little long-term scientific evidence to support this.   

The Physical and Affective Wellbeing Study of dog owners (PAWS) is hoping to change this. The study is using cutting edge science to investigate the impact of real-world dog ownership on both physical and mental health in a way never done before. PAWS also investigates the effects of adoption on dog health, and the quality of the human-dog bond, which is crucial for health benefits in both species.

PAWS is looking for 100 adults who do not currently own a dog to participate in the study – people who are considering owning a dog as well as those who have no interest in doing so. To be eligible, you must live in the Sydney metropolitan area and must not currently own a furry pet. The study will run for 8 months and would require you to meet with researchers three times during this period.

There is some compensation for volunteers who complete the study.

Understanding real-world dog ownership is crucial for optimising the human-dog coexistence for the benefit of both species. If you would like to get involved in this study, or you would like further information, please send an email to cpc.dognode@sydney.edu.au or call (02) 8627 5791.

You can also follow PAWS on Facebook and join the conversation on Twitter.

The researcher collecting this data is PhD Candidate Lauren Powell. She completed her undergraduate degree in Animal and Veterinary Bioscience in 2015, focusing on canine behavioural genetics. Through her part-time work at RSPCA NSW she developed a strong interest in what it is that makes an adoption successful and what is needed in creating a positive human-dog relationship. This developed further to an interest in how the human-dog bond effects health in both species, ultimately leading her to the PAWS project.

The PAWS study was primarily developed by Manos Stamatakis with other members of the Dog Ownership and Human Health Node. Manos has years of experience researching physical activity and health behaviours in humans and developed an interest in dogs after living with his partner’s dogs and realising the true range of emotions they experience.

And his conversion to dog lover was the result of a Jack Russell’s “accident” in the kitchen, an incident covered in the Sydney Uni Alumni Magazine.

“Having reluctantly allowed his then-partner’s dog Rufus into his apartment, Stamatakis returned home unexpectedly late to find an uncharacteristically subdued Rufus and a nasty surprise on his kitchen floor. “He was sitting there in the corner of the hallway staring at the floor, ashamed, embarrassed, upset because he let us down. I knew that he was genuinely upset and it was like an instant connection. It felt like a Eureka moment for me,” Stamatakis says. “I said ‘I have underestimated this creature. What have I been doing all this time? How have I been so stupid?’” 

(Sydney Alumni Magazine Issue 02, Semester 2 2015).

And yet, that little accident, and that lightbulb moment, might change history. Or at least what we understand about humans and dogs. So if you don't live with a furry friend, or you have friends or family who don't, please get involved or spread the word: send an email to cpc.dognode@sydney.edu.au or call (02) 8627 5791.

Pets in the workplace

Hero has placed himself in the diary, ensuring he is prioritised over any work planned...(note the bath mat has been placed on the desk to prevent Hero from jumping onto said desk, skidding along the surface and falling off the other side).

Have you ever taken your non-human companion to work? Increasingly, people can answer this question in the affirmative. But there may be mixed answers to the follow-on: how did it go?

While here at SAT we support companion animals in the workplace, there are some qualifications. The big one is that the animal themselves needs to enjoy the experience – otherwise, there really is no point. I know, for example, that if I took Hero into work he would literally have a hissy fit, and let’s face it, he’s a disruptive kind of guy (yesterday when I worked from home, he sat on my desk and ripped apart my to do list with his teeth). He’s much happier ruling his own turf all day while I earn the dough to keep him in the lifestyle to which he is accustomed. Ditto the guinea pigs. They’re kinda introverted and would not appreciate interactions with unfamiliar humans (although they love it when I work from home).

There are other factors to consider: do you have colleagues who are allergic to animals? What about toilet training (of the companion animals, we hope the colleagues are competent)? Can you ensure they get regular breaks? How are multiple animals managed?

This article from Scientific American tackles some of those tougher areas. It’s not against pets in the workplace, but does argue that such arrangements need to be carefully considered. After all, it won’t help anyone if the arrangement is unsatisfactory and results in a negative outcome. The lesson to be learned is, if you’re going to organise a program like this, make sure it’s done well so that everyone (non-human and human) benefits.