TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Every year on the Friday after Father’s Day, another fun day comes around. It’s called “National Take Your Dog to Work Day” and anyone who CAN take their dog to work today is taking advantage of the opportunity.

Big and small, young and old, long-haired and short-haired… dogs of every size, shape and color across America and Michigan will be headed to work today to do some accounting (counting bones), maybe a little bit of interior decorating (I like the pillow over here) and a lot of playing boss (When’s lunch again, mom?!! We need to go outside now!)

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According to National Day Calendar today is “A celebration of the companionship between canine and human” where they also hope to inspire others to adopt from shelters and humane societies. With thousands of dogs sitting in animal shelters or in foster homes all over Michigan, now is a great time to do some internet searching and find a new best friend so that you’ll be able to take your dog to work next year too!

While, for some, today is the only day during the year that they are allowed to have their furry best friend sitting next to them at their desk, for many others it’s an everyday occurrence. National Day Calendar says, “With pets being central to their business platform, employees bring their dogs to work frequently. Companies such as Petco, Petsmart, Mars Petcare, Trupanion, and Nestle Purina Petcare all have pet-friendly policies. So, every day is “Take Your Dog to Work Day” at these companies.”

That’s also true for people who are lucky enough to work from home and can hang out with their best buds all day long while they work and also during “dog breaks.” Still others who own their own businesses are able to take their dogs to work every day. Their furry friends are often referred to as “shop dogs” and I’m sure you have a few in your community that you stop by to visit.

One such dog ambassador exists at The Copy Shop in Traverse City Michigan. Rosie, a seven-year-old brown lab, often shows up early and leaves late and is always there with a tail wag to greet her customers. Rosie is listed as “manager” on The Copy Shop’s website and her duties are quality control, greeting customers, napping, eating treats, taking hikes and playing with toys.

Over the years, many folks have stopped by The Copy Shop just to visit Rosie and have not even gotten any copies made. She’s a hit with customers young and old and often gets treats dropped off to her during the day from her favorite returning customers. Because of this, she sees some of them before they even come in the front door. Dan Rickard, Rosie’s owner and the owner of The Copy Shop, says, “She’s taught herself to recognize certain cars.”

And of course, the UPS and FedEx drivers are always a hit with Rosie too. As most businesses with dogs know, the delivery drivers almost always have treats with them when they know there is a dog at a business stop that the drivers make every day.

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For those lucky enough to be around a dog all day at work, they understand the benefits of it, including reducing stress, fitting in a little exercise with the dog during the workday, being able to socialize the dog, and having a morale boost for the workers.

In Delaware, the state police say that every day is “Take Your Dog to Work Day” for them. They say, “For our canine troopers, they get to celebrate this holiday with their partners every day!”

Once the officers graduate from the Academy and finish their field training, Delaware State Troopers who are assigned to patrol ride alone. However, the canine handlers always have a partner riding with them who is willing to work no matter how cold, hot, wet, early, or late it is. They are the “Road Dogs” of the state police, traveling far and wide on a daily basis to serve their citizens and visitors of their state.

In addition to police K9 handlers, there are many other jobs which include having dogs around all day including workers in a veterinarian office, animal control shelter, kennel assistants, dog daycare attendants, animal caretaker at a zoo, dog groomers, dog trainers and dog walkers.

And who WOULDN’T want a dog around them all day?!

A quote from photographer and writer Roger Caras says it all – Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.