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MetroParks Farm office goes to the dogs
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .When Julie Paterson needed a mental break during her work day, she hung out with her doberman, Chip.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Daisy the Cockapoo (right) helped her owner Cindy Gomez (left) get some work done during Take Your Dog to Work Day.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Linda Kostka's greyhound, Greycie, accompanied her owner everywhere during the office celebration.
By SARAH FOOR
On June 24, it wasn’t odd to hear a bark or growl echo through the office of the MetroParks Farm.
The canine guests were by their owners’ sides all day as the office celebrated “Take Your Dog to Work Day” at the Canfield facility.
The day is a national activity, first celebrated in 1999 through Pet Sitters International, to celebrate dogs and encourage adoption from humane societies and animal shelters. Already surrounded by the animals who live at the MetroParks Farm, inviting a few more four-legged friends seemed like a no-brainer for the Canfield employees.
“We’re definitely having a busy day in the office,” explained MetroParks development and marketing director Linda Kostka, with a laugh.
“Six dogs are visiting us today, some in the morning and some in the afternoon. It’s a great way to show the love we have for our animals and urge people to find that same love at local shelters,” Kostka said.
Kostka toured the office that afternoon with her greyhound, Greycie, by her side.
Cindy Gomez manned the front desk with her cockapoo Daisy as her sidekick. Chip the Doberman cuddled up next to his owner, Julie Peterson.
To make sure things didn’t get too wild, the dogs stayed separated in their own areas of the office and didn’t offer much distraction from the day’s work.
“I have to stop and give Daisy attention once in a while, but I would say she’s been very supportive today,” said Gomez of her special guest.