Who Let the Dogs In: You may have been greeted by a couple of furry faces.

Who Let the Dogs In
You may have been greeted by a couple of furry faces.
By Jessica Folsom, EA

If you walk through the doors of Reason Financial, you will likely be greeted by a couple of furry faces. Those faces are a part of our families at home and a part of our team at the office. We would like to formally introduce you to the canine mascots of Reason Financial: Joe and Gus. Wet noses, floppy ears, and an insatiable desire for attention are the key character traits of our dogs and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Being greeted by Joe or Gus is an immediate conversation starter and a welcome opening to tell us about a little more about your pet, your family, or yourself. Bringing a small piece of our family into the workplace allows us to share a piece of ourselves with our clients. That being said, let’s get to know the pets at Reason a little better.

Meet Joe

Joe is a 5-year-old Boxer who loves people. His owner, Jessica, brings him to the office occasionally throughout the week to train and keep an eye on him. He will be the first face you see when walking through the door of Reason Financial, and the last face you see upon your exit.

Joe enjoys running, visiting the gym, Costco dog food and salami treats. He adores the rug in the back of the office and you can frequently find him lounging around back there. Joe can be quite playful and energetic, but is also a very good listener and Jessica’s personal shadow. Once he has successfully greeted a client, you will see him saunter back to her office to make sure she is still there. He has a blue ball at home that he plays with constantly and looks forward to the rare moments he gets to spend on the bed. The highlight of Joe’s day is coming to the office and getting to greet everyone and anyone that stops by. Don’t be afraid to say hello and give him a few pets!

Meet Gus

Gus is a lazy dog, unless he is on a walk. Then he is constantly trying to smell the next best thing. His trips down to the office grew out of a need to get him more time on a leash and a walk down to the office was a very practical way to get that done. We are not sure if he has improved on the leash, but he has become a semi-regular fixture on relaxed Friday’s at the office.

Gus is most often found lying somewhere near Sean where he can serve watch. The doorway to Sean’s office or the wall just outside of his office is Gus’s favorite place to relax. Occasionally it will be right at Sean’s feet. There is not a lot to say about Gus other than to define him as the epitome of “Man’s Best Friend”. He has a couple of tricks up his sleeve such as giving hugs or shaking a hand, but mostly he is ridiculously loyal. Gus will happily greet you in the office and beg for some love. So go ahead, feel free to give him a few kind words and a pet. He is harmless and his soft ears have been known to make even the most hardened IRS officer wilt under their spell.

We value a pet-friendly environment in our office, and we aren’t the only ones who believe this type of environment can be beneficial. Here are just a few reasons why pets at the office can be valuable:

• Pets relieve stress. [1]
• Pets allow employees to stay active. [2]
• Pets allow for deeper social connections between clients and employees. [3]

The dogs of Reason are an important part of our team. They help us provide a warm and welcoming environment for our clients. We hope the next time you stop by, you are greeted by a wet nose, furry face, and a whole lot of undivided attention – from the canines, of course.

End Notes

[1] Randolph T. Barker, Janet S. Knisely, Sandra B. Barker, Rachel K. Cobb, Christine M. Schubert, (2012) “Preliminary investigation of employee’s dog presence on stress and organizational perceptions”, International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 5 Issue: 1, pp.15-30

[2] https://www.fastcompany.com/3037205/your-definitive-argument-for-a-pet-friendly-office

[3]https://www.forbes.com/sites/kaytiezimmerman/2016/06/28/6-reasons-dog-friendly-workplaces-attract-millennials/#7a92e96281e9