Take Your Dog to Work Day (sometimes abbreviated as TYDTWD) was first started in 1996 in the United Kingdom and June 24, 1999[1] in the United States. Created by Pet Sitters International this day celebrates the great companions dogs make and encourages adoptions from local shelters, rescue groups and humane societies.[2] The day offers a fun, summer Friday for U.S. employees to introduce their four-legged "best friend" to co-workers and PSI believes that dog-less co-workers will be encouraged to adopt when they witness the human-animal bond. There is also increasing participation in TYDTWD in Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and New Zealand.[3].
On June 24, 1999 PSI held the first Take Your Dog to Work Day in the United States. An estimated 300[4] companies participated nationwide. 2000 saw the acquisition of TYDTWD by the now defunct Pets.com. Pets.com promoted the event using their mascot, Buddy, the sock puppet. That same year, pets.com closed its doors as a result of the dot-com crash, and PSI regained the rights to TYDTWD. In 2001 PSI was hosting the third annual TYDTWD. That year saw the introduction of the first TYDTWD “poster dog,” Ernie. The next year (2002) continued the “poster dog” theme with Sandy. 2003 saw the participation of over 5000[4] companies in TYDTWD. That number doubled in 2004 with an estimated 10,000[4] internationally participating companies. The poster dog for that year was Little Nicky, who was the oldest TYDTWD poster dog to date. 2005 saw a record number of 37,191 hits on the PSI TYDTWD web site. The event was featured on such media as The David Letterman Show and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as well as CNN Headline News. The poster dog for that year was a pit bull named Chloe.
June 20, 2008 marked the tenth annual celebration of Pet Sitters International'sTake Your Dog To Work Day. The company is spreading the day's message with a new, fun dog-centric Web site Celebrating the great companions dogs make and promoting pet adoptions is even more relevant in 2008 with shelters overcrowded as a result of "foreclosure dogs." [5]
Bolstered by the participation of 2008 "Top Dog" sponsor, Comfort Zone for Dogs, Pet Sitters International anticipates that participation in the day will reach an all-time high.
On June 24, 1999 Pet Sitters International (PSI), creator of Take Your Dog To Work Day®(TYDTWDay®) held the first TYDTWDay in the United States. An estimated 300[4] companies participated nationwide. 2000 saw the acquisition of TYDTWDay by the now defunct Pets.com. Pets.com promoted the event using their mascot, Buddy, the sock puppet. That same year, pets.com closed its doors as a result of the dot-com crash, and PSI regained the rights to TYDTWDay. In 2001 PSI was hosting the third annual TYDTWDay. That year saw the introduction of the first TYDTWDay “poster dog,” Ernie. The next year (2002) continued the “poster dog” theme with Sandy. 2003 saw the participation of over 5000 companies in TYDTWDay. That number doubled in 2004 with an estimated 10,000 internationally participating companies. The poster dog for that year was Little Nicky, who was the oldest TYDTWD poster dog to date. 2005 saw a record number of 37,191 hits on the PSI TYDTWDay web site. The event was featured on such media as The David Letterman Show and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as well as CNN Headline News. The poster dog for that year was a pit bull named Chloe.
June 20, 2008 marked the tenth annual celebration of Pet Sitters International's Take Your Dog To Work Day®(TYDTWDay®). Bolstered by the participation of 2008 "Top Dog" sponsor, Comfort Zone for Dogs, PSI spread the day's message with a new, fun dog-centric Web site Celebrating the great companions dogs make and promoting pet adoptions was especially relevant in 2008 with shelters overcrowded as a result of "foreclosure dogs." [5]
More than 100,000 visitors explored Takeyourdog.com to learn more about the 2011 event on Friday, June 24. PSI, along with 2011 campaign partners Veterinary Pet Insurance, Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Adopt-A-Pet.com and Fourleggedlife.com encouraged pet owners around the globe to work with their dogs for a good cause.
Pet Sitters International continues to promote TYDTWDay, which is celebrated annually the Friday following Fathers Day, and anticipates participation in the day will continue to grow. Each year, PSI offers a free downloadable Action Pack, including a sample "dogs at work" policy, TYDTWDay planning tips, event forms and more to companies interested in planning a local event on Takeyourdog.com. A TYDTWDay photo contest is promoted each year as well, with a cash prize award to the winner as well as a donation made to an animal shelter or rescue group of the winner's choice.