Dogs at Work

Two years ago I decided to participate in national Take Your Dog To Work Day, but didn’t get far with the plan because (a) I don’t actually own a dog; (b) I have something of a dog phobia, having been attacked by a Doberman as a child; and© my then employer didn’t allow animals into the workplace for health and safety reasons.

On moving jobs I realised that the idea was fit for revival, and when a relative of a friend offered to lend me Bibi, a small, sweet-natured cairn terrier – more feline than canine – it seemed realistic.

But the doggy dream began to disintegrate all over again when it struck me that: (a) News International might also be anti-pooch; (b) Bibi might end up in the staff canteen, being served up as some kind of fritter, as a result of my lame dog-handling skills; and© the next TYDTWD isn’t until September 17, and I hadn’t actually established the point of the exercise.

But when something is meant to be, it is meant to be, and each of these problems resolved themselves in turn.

Read atTimes Online