Dogs @ Work

Dogs @ Work

Text: Linda Jager
Photography: Timothy Thimmes

By day, they’re greeting clients, schmoozing clients and fetching the mail. By night, it’s back to being man’s best friend.

Long known as a dog-friendly town, many Park City businesses welcome dogs at the workplace. Here’s a look at some of Park City’s most influential corporate canines …

Sadie, a 14-month-old Golden Retriever, is the official greeter at the National Ability Center (NAC). As a puppy, Sadie was featured as an auction item at the NAC’s Starry Night Gala. She was purchased by a generous donor and gifted back to the NAC to keep and raise as the Center’s therapy dog. While she heads home with NAC Executive Director Meeche White each evening, at the office she’s everybody’s dog. “Everybody loves her, she brings warmth and cheer to the office,” says White. Sadie’s warm and affectionate demeanor is an asset to her job at the NAC. “When she was a puppy, Sadie went right up to one of our young participants. She could tell this was a child with special needs,” explains White. “Sadie was able to be calm and let the child pet her. Sadie knows she has a special job.”

Moose, a 10-year-old Wheaton Terrier/Collie mix, minds business at Summit Escrow and Title. He accompanies his owners, Pam and John Hanlon, to the office daily. “We brought him in from day one,” says Pam. “Neither one of us had worked with dogs before, but having Moose around is a great stress reducer.” In his official capacity as office greeter, Moose sits in on an occasional closing (“He brings along his bone so he feels like he’s part of the process,” says Pam); wags his tail to greet the UPS and FedEx delivery people; and eagerly escorts staff to the drop box for overnight deliveries. “We have a lot of repeat business because of Moose,” explains Pam.

“A lot of people don’t remember our names, but they remember Moose.”

Sierra, a 7-year-old Andalusian Mountain Retriever—a.k.a. poodle—is a popular fixture in Park City.

Dividing her time between her owners’ places of work—Joy Barrett’s Expanding Heart shop on Main Street and Public Affairs Director Myles Rademan’s office at City Hall—she keeps busy greeting customers and playing catch with visitors and staff at City Hall. “She was raised around people and understands people really well. In fact, she will deny that she’s a dog,” explains Rademan. “When people walk into the store she goes to those that she knows need help. She’s very empathetic.” Sierra accompanies Rademan on the City’s annual Summer Tours, attends most Leadership Park City sessions, and will occasionally drop by Rademan’s office unannounced. “Sierra knows her way around town. She walks over from The Expanding Heart and comes looking for me at City Hall,” says Rademan. “It takes a village to raise a dog,” he adds. “People know Sierra better than they know Joy and me.”