Mr Smiggle’s Region Media career is progressing rapidly. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A couple of months ago, Region Media made a real “hero hire”. He’s already had a major impact on morale, and his input was ranked highly by staff in our annual performance review cycle. Those achievements have been recognised with a plum HR role and a headshot in our media kit.
His name? Mr Smiggle.
Mr Smiggle – Head of HR – as he appears in the Region Media media kit.
Sure, he spends much of his workday sleeping at the foot of my desk, but when not wrestling fluffy toys on the sofa or coating staff in lavish layers of dog hair, Mr Smiggle also offers cuddles, a reason to leave the office for walks and stress-busting relief for everyone.
And the RSPCA adoptee isn’t alone in his role: the office dog trend is growing, much to the delight of the RSPCA’s Michelle Robertson, who is a staunch advocate of bringing your pets to work. We set out to meet the dogs building impressive CVs across Canberra.
Sambucca oversees operations at Agency9 from his desktop perch. Photo: Supplied.
Claudia Vannithone runs Agency9, a boutique communications agency specialising in public relations, marketing, social media and activations. Their Director of Pats is Sambucca the Pomeranian, who attends site inspections, functions as a desk ornament and recently met Mr Smiggle for networking opportunities.
Claudia says Sambucca became a team member by accident when she moved house and needed a safe place for him while her new fence was being installed. But the Agency9 staff liked him so much that he’s become a permanent fixture. He attends most of Claudia’s meetings, joining her in boardrooms across town.
“He got his job title because he greets everyone in the morning for a pat,” Claudia says. “He runs to the car when it’s time for work, and he brightens the mood for everyone in the office by being there.”
Michael Liu and his PA, Frida the caboodle. Photo: Supplied.
At cultural development agency Dionysus, Michael Liu and business partner Dave Caffery are assisted by Frida the cavoodle, who has her own Instagram account (@fridathecavoodle) and is the office PA (puppy assistant), tasked with ensuring that Dionysus only works with people who like dogs.
“I think it brings a sense of humanity to the office,” Michael says. “It’s good for diplomatic relations when we’re having tough meetings. It’s a vetting process. It’s therapeutic. And, as a bonus, we get her secretarial services.”
Karen advocates yoga as a workplace stress-buster. Photo: Supplied.
Greyhound Karen doesn’t ask to see the manager at Canberra-based visual branding agency SMACK Design. She is the manager!
In addition to raising the bar when it comes to designer work collars, Karen keeps the team fit and healthy with her regular yoga classes. Her favourite pose? Downward dog, of course.
Bella and Coco put in the hard yards for Rowdy Digital and BDW Special Events. Photo: Supplied.
Coco is the official concierge at Canberra digital marketing agency Rowdy Digital, co-owned by Coco’s mum Judy Waters and Llewella Jago.
She is a shih tzu-poodle cross and her responsibilities are personally greeting every guest (clients, visitors, delivery, tradies and plant-watering people) and making them feel special. She also manages catering (the watching of it, not the preparation).
Coco also has an assistant, Bella, who operates mostly in the literary sphere. Bella is a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and is owned by Paul Donohoe, director of BDW Special Events and Canberra Writers Festival board member and public officer.
The Cox Architecture canine team: Holly, Griffin and Tully. Photo: Supplied.
Cox Architecture in Kingston might well top the list of Canberra’s dog-friendly workplaces with no less than three full-time canine employees and several regular visitors, says office manager Victoria Cotton.
Architect Chris Millman’s labrador cross, Holly, and Griffin, the mini-groodle, joined the team about five years ago, followed by Tully, the freckle-faced border collie (recently adopted by Victoria from the RSPCA).
“They lighten the mood a lot. People love patting them,” Victoria says. “It’s a nice reminder that everything is not 100 per cent about work and you bond with people over the dogs. It’s like having an extra friend.”
All of this gladdens Michelle Robertson’s heart in these stressful times. She’s a firm believer that offices are better when they’re shared with animals if at all possible.
“Pets are really good for mental health and wellbeing,” she says. “There’s a good case for more businesses to become pet friendly because happier and healthier employees are more productive and the animals are going to win too.”
Do you have an office dog? Post a photo of your workplace’s four-legged friends.
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