It’s always exciting when I get to interview two office dogs! Today, I’m talking to Dobby and Rusty, from Embark, all the way in Sri Lanka! I wonder how many treats I could eat on the way to visit them?
Napa: What breed are you?
Dobby and Rusty: We are Sri Lankan Street Dogs – a mix of everything great!
Napa: Tell me more about working at Embark. I’d love to learn more about the company.
Dobby and Rusty: Embark is a dog welfare organization. We try to help other stray dogs with medical care. But our first order of the day is to greet the Embark humans as they arrive at work. It is essential that they get lots of doggy kisses before they start work.
We supervise as the humans answer their emails and hotline calls. Things get busy as they coordinate rescues, try to determine whether our fellow pooches can be treated onsite, need outpatient treatment or for long term care we send them to our pooch hospital. During weekly meetings we try to sit in but sometimes doze off. Oops!
Work days are busier than usual when Adoption Days are coming up, there are two of these events a month and we have to help get the van packed up with all the banners, water bowls, registration forms, information leaflets etc. Some days we have the task of wagging goodbye to our field team when they leave early morning to do field work like spay/neuter clinics, home visits for adopted pups and other important tasks.
Napa: Whose desk do you sit under most often?
Dobby: I have my own corner in the Embark office but when Otara comes in I go to hang out with her. Her office has lots of fun things to play with but when important people come to meet her, I sit on her knee and whisper ideas in her ear. Oh! There is also a really cool, comfy bed, where I like to curl up and get some shut eye; we pooches have big dreams too!
Rusty: I like to sun myself next to the butterfly garden in the mornings, towards lunch time I move under Manesha’s desk. I do not want to miss the moment when lunch arrives. We eat packs of rice and curry for lunch, it is my favourite as this is what I have been used to all my life! I am not a big fan of processed pet food; I love how Manesha mixes all the rice and goodies together for me to eat!
Napa: When you get bored around the office (in between important in the office tasks), how do you keep busy?
Dobby: We usually nap. Sometimes we chase each other around the butterfly garden or the humans throw a ball for us but the weather here is just so great for napping!
Napa: What’s the best thing you’ve ever eaten around the office (even if you weren’t supposed to)?
Dobby: I have chewed up several pairs of shoes and sent at least three of my human co-workers home barefoot!
Napa: What’s your favorite funny dog video?
Dobby: This puppy-playtime video, starring myself!
Napa: Where are you from? What’s your favorite trait about the area you live in?
Rusty: We are from Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. The weather is fantastic, mostly sunny. Many homeless dogs face hardship and cruelty on the streets but there is a no-kill order from the president which protects animals to some extent and most people are kind and feed street dogs.
Napa: If you could tell your human co-workers anything, what would it be?
Rusty: We would say a big thank you for taking us off the street and giving us a home, hugs and kisses every day and yummy food to eat. We are happy to sit at their feet, and occasionally lick a toe, as they work hard to give other pooches just like us a second chance at a good life.
Napa: Can you share any advice for other office dogs?
Dobby: Kisses and wags are important when humans arrive in the morning and are also recommended if anyone appears stressed. Some humans do not understand that we all have the same souls and we only differ in how we use our minds. They often overcomplicate their thinking and want far more than they need, so they miss out on a lot of happiness.
Napa: I love your company’s mission to help stray pups. What ways can humans and canines help the cause?
Dobby: Humans and canines can help spread awareness to change people’s perception of street dogs – we are fashionable to own and we are available for free!
We also want people to understand that animals need love and kindness just like humans do.
Human volunteers are always welcome, especially if they are the cuddling type! Donations are also welcome because it is a big task we have undertaken, to improve the lives of over a million homeless pooches.
Napa: The same goes for the awesome work you’re doing to stop rabies in Sri Lanka. What do you want the world to know about rabies prevention?
Dobby: Rabies is a very scary disease that dogs can pass on to humans. We are battling every day to kick this life threatening disease out of our country. Again, we need funding to vaccinate and sterilise street dogs. Embark believes in humane population control that meets international standards.
Rusty: We also use education programs to teach children about the need to vaccinate their pets and stay safe from Rabies, it is important to protect the community as well as the dogs.
Napa: What’s it like having a canine coworker? I’ve always wanted one, but I’ve only been allowed to have guests visit the office.
Dobby: We love each other’s company! Rusty is very wise, he has been through a lot in life and he almost did not survive a terrible ordeal. He keeps me in line and I have a lot of respect for him. I have also taken it upon myself to keep Rusty young at heart, when he’s feeling down I chase him around the office and bite his behind.
Are you an office dog? Is your co-worker a canine? Get in touch on Twitter or leave a note in the comments section if you’d like to be interviewed!
Side note: Do you run a business in the pet industry? Would you like to drive more traffic and sales to your site through a search-optimized pet blog? Get in touch with my office-mates at Lantern Content Marketing!
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