A stressful work environment needs just one thing to boost employee satisfaction: furry visitors! At least that’s the theory behind the new Snuggle Delivery initiative at the Humane Society of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
When Adam Goldberg at the animal welfare organization first floated the idea of bringing puppies and kittens to visit local offices, his boss was somewhat skeptical. Goldberg had seen the SPCA of Texas do something similar by surprising people at their workplace with a crate full of kittens. Although it was just a one-time event, the moments were captured on social media for all to see (and swoon). Soon enough, Goldberg’s superiors were on board and decided to include a fundraising element as part of the program.
There are probably plenty of office jobs that could use a little four-legged love somewhere in the 9 to 5 rush. And the Humane Society is ready and willing to show up armed with animal babies and adults alike. All a company needs to do is make a donation of $150 (more is always welcome, of course, as are Wish List items) and set aside a quiet place for 60 to 90 minutes where workers can interact with the adoptable animals. In the time it takes to enjoy a lunch break, employees get a little respite from daily stresses, shelter animals are given the chance to socialize, and the wonderful benefits of adoption are made clear.
Last year, the Humane Society adopted out 7,500 animals, but there is a constant stream of new arrivals in need of homes. “If we can increase adoptions from this, that would be great,” Goldberg says, adding that Snuggle Delivery helps strengthen relationships with local community members and businesses while bringing in vital funds for the privately financed organization.
The first office visit took place on April 3, when five pups visited a Fort Lauderdale accounting firm with 35 ready-to-snuggle employees. As a result, at least two pups found forever homes. The plan is to do one a day. At the moment, there have been 12 inquiries and nine bookings for a Snuggle Delivery, mostly from law firms.
The organization is hopeful that the new program will give its deserving residents some much-needed attention. Spreading the word beyond Broward County would just be a bonus. “If we can inspire other places and make it easier for them to do the same thing, that’s great,” Goldberg adds.
Read more news about dogs on Dogster:
- Wil and Anne Wheaton Write Touching Remembrances of Their Dog of 13 Years, Riley
- Photoboth Pictures Help Shelter Dogs Find New Homes
- Dogs Dine at a High-End, Organic Pop-Up Restaurant in London
About the author: Whitney C. Harris is a New York-based freelance writer for websites including StrollerTraffic, Birchbox, and WhattoExpect.com. A former book and magazine editor, she enjoys running (with Finley), watching movies (also with Finley), and cooking meatless meals (usually with Finley watching close by).
