This World Dog Day, Mars Petcare are calling on more employers to introduce pet friendly policies at work to encourage more people to rehome a rescue dog.

Sadly, having to be at work all day is one of the reasons people abandon pets and this is a barrier to people adopting an animal in the firs place. If employers were more open to letting staff bring their dogs to work, thousands of dogs all over the UK could be rehomed – and fewer would be abandoned.

Pet-friendly policies at work are simple to implement and not only encourage people to adopt a new dog but make it easier for current dog owners to look after their pet responsibly – eliminating the need for them to leave them at home alone all day.

Kate Menzies, Director of People and Organisation at Mars Petcare said: “Pet friendly policies are good for both dogs and owners. Dogs in the office can offer a sense of comfort, relieve stress, increase physical activity and even improve productivity. As for the dogs, they enjoy the chance to socialise all day. We are working with our partners at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to raise awareness of the plight of rescue dogs and how employers can take simple steps to help their staff look after their pets.”

Mars Petcare and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have been partners since 2009. The charity cares for nearly 5,000 dogs every year with well over 60% of dogs coming to the Home because their owners can no longer care for them. People gift their pets into Battersea for a number of reasons including change in circumstance – which may include a change in working hours. This could mean the dog would be left for too long on their own and the owners may no longer be able to give them the care they need.

Battersea’s Rehoming and Welfare Manager, Becky Fisher said: “Every dog is different, but no dog should be left alone at home for hours at a time whilst owners are at work. With the right environment at work, pet friendly policies and office dogs could make a real difference to people who want to rehome rescue dogs who find their working hours a barrier.”

Top 5 Tips for a Dog Friendly Office:

1. Set some simple guidelines for owners to make sure the dogs they bring into work will be relaxed and well-behaved in the office.

2. Doggy name badges and sign-in sheets are really handy – so you know which dogs are in the building at all times.

3. If you can, create some kind of dog friendly outdoor space so owners and pets can take ‘walkies’ near the office.

4. Make everyone aware of the new policy from the start – some people are wary of dogs but the most well behaved pups will integrate really well and be a benefit to all.

5. Think about the other policies you could introduce to help pet owners – for example in 2012, we launched our ‘Pet-ernity’ policy – giving our staff 10 hours of paid leave to care for and bond with a new kitten or puppy.

Two dogs looking for their forever homes:

Buster

Buster is a thirteen-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who has been at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for over 130 days. He’s one of the home’s ‘golden oldies’ who arrived here because his owners’ circumstances changed and they were no longer able to take care of him. Buster is a sweet boy who loves being around people and is very gentle and loving. He finds it hard being on his own, so he will need owners who are willing to help him work on this. This older gent is looking for a home where his owners can give him the love and attention he deserves. He will make an affectionate and rewarding addition to any new family.

Eden

Eden is a three-year-old gorgeous Husky cross who has been at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for over 140 days. She arrived at here because her owners were no longer able to take care of her. Although she is a medium sized dog, Eden has the husky personality- so would be perfect for anyone who wants a pocket husky. She is a very affectionate girl who likes company and is looking for someone who can be around her for most of the day. She would be ideally suited to someone who could spend most of the day with her to give her the fuss and attention she deserves.

Please contact Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for more information.