Dogs at Work

You can take your dog to work at many companies and for some federal jobs. Many nonprofit organizations and smaller businesses allow dogs at work, and some larger companies, like Google, make it a work life benefit. In government, assistance dogs are permitted in most agencies if they are used to help the blind or those with special needs, and after a formal request is made to supervisors and HR.

Several law enforcement agencies use dogs and dog handlers as part of explosives and detection teams. The Transportation Security Administration has an Explosives Detection Canine Handler Course at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Canine teams are stationed at the nation's largest airports. Some of the teams involve local police departments. The Customs and Border Protection agency and the military services also have canine teams.

But if you can't take your dog to work, you can still get involved by helping a government-related program find missing pets. The Missing Pet Network is a group of volunteers sponsored by the Agriculture Department's Animal Care Office who help people find missing pets. Most states have an MPN volunteer group, but some states still need one.

By the way, June 22 is Take Your Dog to Work Day. Do you think any federal agency will go for it?