Tomorrow, if you were not already aware, marks the annual Take Your Dog to Work Day. (And yes, that’s more than enough reason to blast this gem from the year 2000 on full volume). According to a Web site dedicated to Take Your Dog to Work Day, the day was first celebrated in 1999. Take Your Dog To Work Day, the site says, “was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs. This annual event encourages employers to experience the value of pets in their workplace for this one special day to promote pet adoptions.”

What a great concept, eh? You can register your support for the recognized day –and there’s Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace efforts you can join.

The site even includes the Top 10 “Things to say to convince your boss to take part in Take Your Dog to Work Day,” including:

• Wagging tails work great when the a/c is on the fritz

• Meetings end as soon as Rover starts staring at the conference room door

• Finally, someone at your office will actually be working like a dog

Doggone it

Despite the good intentions of this reserved day in which the greatest of human companions may roam the halls among us or take a swig from the water cooler when no one’s watching, however, controversy abounds as to whether dogs should be allowed in the workplace at all.

Are dogs allowed in your office — and if they normally are not, should you bend the rules, even just for this one occasion? That’s what the Marine Industries Association of South Florida has been doing.

Even The Obama family’s Portuguese Water Dog, Bo, has apparently been spotted hanging out during White House meetings. However, what works for one (oval) office doesn’t necessarily work for another, as the writer of a blog on the Sun-Sentinel contends. The decision often depends on the office environment and the dog itself. Business owners who allow dogs into the office on a daily basis stress that it boosts employee morale. But employees who aren’t comfortable with dogs may feel trapped, and obviously, some dogs are more “office-friendly” than others. On the other hand, you may work in a very dog-friendly office — and share a mutual love for dogs and acceptance of their co-habitating in your workspace.

Tips for bringing your favorite canine friend to work

• Be respectful to your co-workers. Be sensitive to those who are allergic, scared of, or otherwise uncomfortable with dogs in the office. Check with your co-workers before bringing your fine fluffy friend with you to ensure that everyone is on board with it. If bringing your dog in presents a problem, work to find an alternative that works for everyone — or find another way to give back to the canine community — like The Humane Society.
• Use your best judgment. If you know that Ruggles is an out-of-control 3-month-old who has yet to master the art of bladder control, it’s probably not in your best interest to bring him along to roam the cubicles (and will probably also score you a lot of lunches alone in the near future). Your dog should be trained, well-behaved, and have the ability to keep the barking and tearing up the carpet to a minimum (unless your co-workers are okay with that).
• Keep your dog happy — and it’s likely everyone else will be happy. Little things like bringing your dog’s favorite blanket or treats to make him or her feel at home and occupied can make a big difference. The Examiner offers some tips for your dog’s big day out.

So the question remains: Will every dog have its day? That’s for you — and your dog-fearing or dog-loving co-workers — to decide. What are your plans?