Working Cats and Dogs
August 2016
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Don't Forget to Book My Sitter for Labor Day!



Really, don't you think you're cutting it a little close, Mom and Dad?

You wouldn't want anything bad to happen to Grandma's vase, now, would you?
Best Places to Nap, According to Your Pets    

We contacted your pets on their social media accounts (Oh, you didn't know about those? Oops!) to ask them about their favorite napping spots!

Champagne, Greenwich Village: My Mom's lingerie drawer is the best. She has the nicest lavender sachets, and her silky delicates really feel wonderful against my paws.

Rufus, LES: I like to get up on the white couch to nap, but I can only do it while they're at work. Otherwise they yell at me. I wonder why? Don't they like to share?

Jazz & Evelyn, UWS: We like to lie on the kitchen counter, right next to the drying rack. The morning sun is really intense there, and the glasses are nice to lick when they're drying.

Gladys & Gilderoy Lockbark, East Harlem: We find that tipping over the laundry hamper makes an excellent spot for a nice little love nest.

Angus, Chelsea: In the bathtub. It's nice and cool, and I can have all the fresh water I want. Don't you dare call the plumber about that leak.

Ingmar Purrgman, Tribeca: I like to lay on the television, of course. At least I did, until they got that blasted flat screen. Now I have to make do by laying on their computers, preferably while they're using them.

Brienne of Bark, DUMBO: I will lay where my master requires me to lay. It is my duty. I work very hard to make my master happy because he rescued me. One thing I will not do, however, is shake. It has to do with a friend of mine, Jamie. They call him The Hand, poor misunderstood fellow.
Breaking Pet News! Dogs and Cats Working!
Making money: Not Sharing with Humans!

It turns out our favorite little freeloaders have been holding out! Cats and dogs everywhere are holding down a variety of jobs and making great strides in their chosen fields.

Maybe it's time to have a serious heart to heart with your pet to find out if they've got a secret bank account in the Caymans. At the very least, they should help with the rent.
Working Dogs

It should come as no surprise that our doggy darlings excel at jobs in which they can help their best friends: all of humanity! Here are just a few of the careers in which our canine companions shine.

Therapy/Service Dogs: Whether it's spreading a little love and comfort, or offering more specialized skills like such as picking up dropped items or working a light switch, these gentle, specially trained dogs make a huge difference in the lives of every human they meet. Emergency Response/Medical Service Dogs: These working dogs have received much more training and specialize in things like search and rescue or medical assistance like detecting seizures or helping diabetics.

Police/Military Dogs: Of all the working dogs, those who work with the Police or Military are perhaps the most highly trained, skilled dogs on the planet. They handle the kinds of situations that would make the toughest of us turn tail in seconds flat. To learn more about the kinds of training these dogs undergo, check out this 2013 series by National Geographic called Alpha Dogs.
Working Cats

Admittedly, cats have some catching up to do if they want to give dogs some competition for the title of Man's Best Friend. Still, they can be helpful, when they want to be!

Therapy/Station Master/Library Cats: If you're a cat owner, you already know how comforting cats can be. Happily, the world of therapy animals has finally caught on. Our feline friends are finally being recognized for their gentle, loving natures everywhere from retirement communities to children's hospitals. Cat also make great representatives for places that need a bit of soft-n-cuddly PR, such as a boring train station or even libraries.
Pest Control: In addition to their snuggly natures, cats are also known for their skills in pest control, and it's this quality that has led several larger cities including LA and Chicago to start ingenious programs that pair feral strays who might otherwise not be adoptable with businesses who need some serious pest control help!

Cat Shepherd: This might be the most surprising job on the list. Bodacious might be the only shepherding cat in the world, but he does his job with style and grace. He even has an apprentice, Oven Mitt! It's only a matter of time before these savvy felines give dogs a run for their money.
 
Spokes Cat: Last but not least, cats make excellent ambassadors. People might scoff at famous internet cats, but besides being cute, these cats are doing a lot of good! Googly-eyed Lil Bub is credited by her owner as having saved his life, but she didn't stop there. Since 2012, Lil Bub's Big Fund has helped raise more than $300,000 to help animals with special needs just like her. Other kitties, like those raised by The Kitten Lady of Instagram, help teach followers how to care for newborn rescues like them, and to also raise funds to assist newborns in need.