POLL: Having an office pet (eg. dog, cat) is beneficial for employees. (Agree or Disagree)?

Assuming lack of allergy issues - an office dog can be a great stress reliever in the office as well as a "dog friendly" office environment for employees to bring their own (well-trained) pets in. @noraburns

Here in Boulder, CO, it's commonplace to see dogs in businesses of all kinds -- coffee shops, doctor's offices, (certainly not the Kaiser-type facility!), sporting goods places, even Home Depot. It's kind of refreshing to see the "wagging tail" when you do. Is this good for every business? Probably not. I think it depends on the mix of customers/clients and also the temperament and personality of the canine in question. Also, where does one drawn the line? Can everyone bring their pet? Will customers and clients like it? I think it's prudent to take a pulse first.
An aside: there is a great pet boutique we visit specifically for the chance to chat it up with the resident cat, Grub. If he's around, I feel like my visit is complete. If he's hiding somewhere and I don't get to pet him a bit, I'm disappointed. But I'm an animal lover and not all people are :)

As long as pets are trained, they can be excellent "co-workers." Consider all the success stories about therapy pets...if they can make such a difference in the lives of sick and recovering individuals in hospitals and other medical venues, think about the impact dogs and cats can make in the workplace. They can help to reduce stress, help energize workers, and above all, add a smile (or two or three) when they do something that causes a laugh - resulting in inspiration that one might need to return to work and be even more productive.

Absolutely, assuming as the others have said, that the pets are trained and that no one in the office suffers from dander allergies. I've allowed pets at two of my businesses, and have found that one or two animals help create a great environment. There's nothing better than holding a dog in your lap when you're stressed out. We also found it to be a helpful recruiting tool.

But here are a couple issues to watch out for:

1. I had a little pug who rarely barked and loved everyone...except the owner of the building. For some reason, she had a real issue with him and would bark incessantly anytime he was around. (I must admit, I kind of shared her feelings for him.) So you have to be prepared that the animal might not get along with everyone.

2. When allowing employees to bring pets to work, you have to set very strict written limits and include them in an employee handbook. For example, I'd recommend breed limits that comply with municipal codes. Some municipalities don't allow pit bulls or other specific breeds. I've seen plenty of wonderful pits, but you have to be compliant with code. I'd also set strict behavioral limits and a 2-strikes-you're-out policy. We had a problem where a staff member brought a new dog to work, and he became very territorial, preventing people from entering that person's office. I'd also recommend a limit on the number of dogs allowed on any particular day. Otherwise, the office can start looking like a kennel.

It really depends on the working environment. I can see it being beneficial in some workplaces and definitely a morale booster but I think it's also important that everyone agrees to the 'company mascot'. I personally don't care much for dogs as much as I do cats - would I want a dog in my office - depends. Who is responsible for the care of the dog? Is it well behaved? I've gone into a store and had a large dog jump up on me. While I get that the dog is very friendly, I was annoyed because it was totally unexpected. I think if everyone in the workplace were agreeable and it was clear as to how the dog would be taken care of - I'd be O.K. with it - but as I say, depends a lot on the dog and the work environment.

Allergies is really the big issue. When I have a cold I become hyper-allergic to cats and dogs. This is not an uncommon problem.
If you must have pets in the office then perhaps an aquarium is the best answer.