Office petiquette nips at pet prejudice

by Angus Thompson
With studies showing that pets improve workplace productivity, some Sydney workers are bucking tradition to bring their pets into the office, despite nagging restrictions on animals in other public places.

Research by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association revealed that pets can deliver improved staff performance. But, while one in five US workplaces are now pet-friendly, critics say New South Wales lacks progress.

Tim Poulton, head promoter at Chippendale record label Boundary Sounds, has been bringing his 14-month-old Fox Terrier Bella to work for over a year. Every day Bella joins Rottweiler Morissey, owned by label head Martin Novosel, to roam the office.

Poulton agrees that Bella contributes to a better working environment. ‘She’s a bit of a stress release for me. If I’m starting to get a bit stressed out I can just call her and she comes down from upstairs and sits on my lap for a little while. I also found I can clear my head with her.’

Bob Felton, owner of a Woolloomooloo freighting company, says his Smokey Kelpie, Jack, improves morale and creates conversation with clients.

But Mr Felton said he lamented the ‘draconian’ laws that restricted man’s best friend from other places.

Australian pet food maker Mars Petcare recently introduced a ‘Pets in the Office’ program to cater for their staff, the majority of them pet owners.

Barking-Mad, a national lobby group for pet owners’ rights, is pressing the state government to let dogs on public transport as part of the Australia’s first senate inquiry into public transport.

Without a car, Redfern Barking-Mad member Lee Clarke resorted to smuggling her Maltese terrier-shih tzu cross, Brodie, in a bag on the train, risking fines.

Clarke now rides a moped but discovered just a month ago that it was illegal to take Brodie on that as well.

‘I was very scared. I thought what am I going to do’ That’s the only way I get around,’ she said.

While it is not illegal to take dogs onto Sydney buses, Barking-Mad members said they were refused this privilege as well.

Last year the group’s founder, Eedra Zey, was handcuffed and arrested for refusing to get off a bus with her dog, Pema. She also has five criminal charges against her for taking Pema on the beach.

Meanwhile CityRail remains dogged in its opposition: ‘CityRail welcomes people with assistance dogs. However, no other pets or other animals are permitted on stations or trains for the comfort and safety of other passengers,’ said a spokesperson.

Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, last year told Parliament that inner-city pet owners were particularly disadvantaged, as they were more likely to use public transport, to live in smaller apartments, and have less access to open spaces.