Yes, we have company dogs. One of the best decisions we ever made was to give every employee the privilege of bringing their dog to work. It is by no accident that everyone who works here is a “dog person”. Loving animals is one of the best common denominators one can use when putting together a loyal and hard working team. We felt that having the dogs here would make it comfortable for everyone, especially the doggies. Every working person with a dog feels guilty about leaving their puppies behind in the morning. But, when your dog is lying next to your desk or cavorting with the other dogs under one roof, there is no guilt around here, at least none related to being a dog owner. All guilt bestowed on Lovefifi.com employees is the sole duty of the QEO, Miss Fifi. That stands for Queen Executive Officer, if you were wondering.
It is hard for me to understand how anyone could live without a dog. They love you no matter what, they think everything you say is interesting and they are so happy to see you when you return from somewhere, even if you were just in the next room.
At my house, there are three of us: myself, Babydoll, and Beauregard. Babydoll is a Malti-poo that was a birthday gift seven years ago and Beau is a Poodle that I rescued from unthinkable conditions. Babydoll is a bit of a brat, at times, and doesn’t put up with wet grass or food that isn’t warmed up. I always have to wait to get affection from her when she feels like it. She is such a diva. She would sell me out in a Manhattan minute for a rawhide bone. Beau, on the other hand, worships me. He cannot get enough of me and will tolerate anything just to be near me. I love that quality in a man.
Dogs, like people, all have different personalities. The adorable assemblage of canines that gather at LoveFifi.com everyday are living, barking proof. For the sake of conversation, we call them the Bigs and the Littles. The Bigs are made up of Nikita, Benny, Peri, Django, and Max. The Littles are Babydoll, Beau, Foxie, Pixie, Sophie, Elvis, Lucky, Bella, and our dearly departed “angel” dogs, Maggie and Tristan.
All the dogs don’t come every day, but we usually have at least a respectable pack of a half a dozen or so. We take company dog walks twice daily at the park across the street. We all contribute to the jars full of doggy treats. The dogs even have a special alcove by our front door where each leash hangs.
When people come to visit us, the reaction to the dogs goes one of two ways. They think we are a bunch of L.A. whack-a-doos or they can’t keep their hands off the doggies and think that this is the coolest company in the universe. It’s actually ALL true... thankyouverymuch.
Having the dogs around is very special for all of us and does not inhibit our productivity one iota. It actually makes for an uber-creative and relaxed atmosphere. I can tell you from firsthand experience that it is just as efficient to work on the computer with a Chihuahua on your lap as without; and it is a lot more wonderful.
The dogs entertain us, make us smile, get us outside of this building twice a day, and make coming to work even more of a joy. Every one of us loves ALL the dogs and takes care of them like they were our own in the “it takes a village” kind of way.
I am not saying that it is easy to keep a dignified business atmosphere going at all times. Wherever WE are, the dogs are. More than once, a serious meeting had to be temporarily disbanded because one of the dogs let one rip. They probably don’t have those kinds of corporate interruptions at IBM, but those people don’t get doggy kisses and tail wags with coffee each morning.
Dogs don’t change just because they get to come to work with their people. They still smell each other’s butts to say hello. They don’t care if you are on the phone with your customer, they will still bark or whine if it is walk time. Another great feature of having so many dogs around is that you never have to worry about being lonely in the bathroom. With each visit to the Lovefifi ladies room, I am always guaranteed canine companionship. Life is good.
