Who doesn’t love “bring your pet to work day”? Office workers who dislike dog urine, for starters.
For years, Jefferson County has allowed employees to bring pets, specifically dogs, to work. But following multiple incidents of urination, biting, and staff conflict, the county may soon ban all animals from its buildings and vehicles.
County Commissioner Dan Hagerty has received several complaints in recent weeks, including two custodians who reported cleaning dog mess out of office carpeting.
The ban is expected to begin after the next employee amendment process in June. Allowances would likely be made for animal-friendly county properties, like the fairgrounds, and for ADA-approved service animals, though not emotional support animals.
Several county employees said they bring their dogs to work without problems and wondered if there was a way to set expectations for certain buildings or dogs.
“I’m in the office by myself a lot,” said Shaelie Palmer, an administrative office assistant at the Solid Waste and Noxious Weed Department. “And having my dog is a kind of companionship.”
Commissioners seemed hesitant to make any further allowances. “To be fair to everybody, I think we should be the same all the way around, which makes it really hard to have dogs in county [buildings],” Commissioner Cory Kirsch said at the Feb 10 County Commission meeting. “There are just offices that strictly cannot have dogs in them and function.”
Office dogs, the commissioners said, create a liability for the county and taxpayers. “It’s the county budget that’s replacing the carpets. It’s the county budget that’s dealing with the employee issues it’s causing. It’s the county dealing with an employee getting bitten right outside the [ Country Clerk and Recorder Office] door,” said Commissioner Craig Doolittle.
Kirsch agreed. “You never know what your dog’s going to do in any certain circumstance,” he said. “If we get bit, then the county’s on the hook.”
Surrounding counties, including Powell and Lewis and Clark, do not permit pets in their buildings. The Commissioners agreed to keep the issue under advisement, giving more time for public comment while the county drafts the policy change.
Kirsch recognized that having a friendly, furry face around the office is pleasant, but said that dogs perhaps belong outside the workplace. “It’s just one of those things where I go to work, and my dog stays home, and I’m really glad to see her when I get home,” Kirsch said.
