Paws in the Office: How Corporate Pet Visits Are Changing the Workday

At the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, our Pet Visiting Program has always been about bringing comfort and connection to the community. Our Pet Ambassador Teams regularly visit long-term care homes, high schools, hospitals, hospices, colleges, and community centres across Hamilton and Burlington, bringing a little extra joy wherever they go. Lately, though, one part of the program is growing faster than ever: our Corporate Comfort Crew visits.

Designed specifically for workplaces, these visits pair our trained Pet Ambassador Teams with businesses looking to boost morale, ease stress, and bring a little joy into the workday. It's a simple idea with a big impact: for an hour or so, employees step away from their desks and spend time with a friendly, well-mannered dog (or cat) trained specifically for this kind of visit.

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One recent example says it all. When John Deere's Grimsby location wanted to do something meaningful for their team, they turned to HBSPCA for a Pet Visit, and the response exceeded expectations.

"The Pet Visit was a highlight for our team at John Deere Canada," said Sarah Matthews, Senior Counsel of John Deere Canada, who helped coordinate the visit at the Grimsby site. "We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the dogs, and the visit brought a great deal of energy, laughter, and connection into the workplace. It was wonderful to see colleagues from different departments come together and share such a positive experience."

That sense of connection is exactly what makes Corporate Comfort Crew visits so valuable, not just for morale in the moment, but for the culture of a workplace long after the visit ends.

"Programs like this are valuable because they support employee well-being while also helping organizations connect with important community causes," Sarah explained. "The visit provided a chance to take a break from our daily routines, reduce stress, and learn more about the work the HBSPCA does."

And the feedback from employees back that up.

"The response from participants was overwhelmingly positive," Sarah shared. "People were excited to meet the animals, and the visit created a genuine sense of joy throughout the office. For many team members, it was the highlight of the day."

Reflecting on the visit overall, Sarah summed it up best:

"The HBSPCA Pet Visit was an incredibly positive experience for our John Deere Grimsby team. Employees loved spending time with the animals, and the visit created a fun, uplifting atmosphere throughout the workplace. Initiatives like this promote employee well-being, strengthen team connections, and raise awareness for the important work being done by organizations like the HBSPCA. We were proud to welcome the HBSPCA to our site and support such a meaningful community connection."

Stories like this one are exactly why we're growing our Corporate Comfort Crew offering. Every visit booked by a local business doesn't just brighten someone's workday, it also helps fund the Pet Visiting Program as a whole, allowing us to keep bringing this same experience to nursing homes, hospitals, high schools, hospices, and community centres across Hamilton and Burlington, often for those who could use a little joy the most.

If your organization is looking for a fresh way to support employee wellness while giving back to the community, a Pet Visit might be exactly what your team needs.