Buddy has an unusual way of keeping office hours: stretched out on a sun-warmed patch of hardwood floor at a downtown Lancaster business.
He can be forgiven for his work habits, because 12½-year-old Buddy is a Brittany, a spaniel-like dog that keeps company with his owners, Jude Sharp and Sylvia Weaver, at j a sharp Custom Jeweler, 332 N. Queen St.
"If he's not here, it feels like there's someone missing," said Sharp, who added some regulars at the store have known Buddy since he was a puppy.
Buddy isn't alone. At the shop, he has not only human but canine company in Roxie, a 6-year-old female German shorthaired pointer that prefers to spend time in the rear studio where Sharp crafts custom rings, pendants and bracelets.
Indeed, furry friends are not out of place in America's offices and stores. According to a 2006 survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association Inc., one in five U.S. companies allows dogs at work. The national poll was conducted among working Americans ages 18 years and older.
A majority of those polled "believe there are benefits to having pets at work, such as relieving stress, improving relationships with co-workers, making for a happier workforce and creating a happier work environment," the APPMA said on its Web site (
www.appma.org/newsletter/july2006/appma_news.html).
Some animal companions earn their keep, as well. Zap, a golden retriever, serves as a "demo dog" at United Disabilities Services in the Greenfield Corporate Center, for example, greeting visitors and showing off maneuvers service dogs are trained to do in order to assist the disabled. Zap "works" for New Life Assistance Dogs, a program at UDS.
Zap came to be in his present position by default. "He was training to be a service dog," said his keeper, receptionist Karen Prue.
A hip defect, however, sidelined that career. Prue, who was raising Zap as a puppy until he was supposed to assume his caregiving role, ended up being the proud friend of a combination office mascot and walking representative for New Life Assistance. He can't serve on his own, but can still perform such skills as bringing a pill bottle, fetching a tissue (without shredding it) and turning on a light switch.
"He thinks he's working," said Prue, who noted that Zap lives with her but technically still belongs to New Life.
"When they retire him, he'll be my pet."
Of Zap's office life, Prue said, "he goes to people and wants them to give him things to carry. He greets people, and gives us dog therapy. He gives us 'Zap hugs.' "
At downtown Lancaster's Art & Glassworks, 319 N. Queen St., it's more like a case of feline friendliness. There, tan-and-white Morris and big, gray Mickey hold court, padding from the back of the shop to saunter around customers perusing stained-glass objets d'art.
"Sometimes they don't come out," said employee Jackie Kissel, noting one popular city event that keeps the felines in hiding. "First Friday is a little too much for them," she said of the monthly happening, when shops and galleries stay open late in Lancaster. Otherwise, "a lot of times, you'll find them in the windows, sunbathing."
Store owner Karin Meacham pointed out one advantage to having Mickey and Morris in the store for her customers. The cats appeal to "a lot of people who can't have pets in their apartments," she said.
"So they can come in, sit down on the floor and play with the cat," she said.
That's also true, pet-wise, for Lisa Bender, who works in office support at UDS. She doesn't have a pet at home; but, at work, Zap the retriever is "my surrogate puppy dog," she said.
In Guidry's case, the role is playmate.
The 3½-year-old Labradoodle first took up residence in the office of Jack Howell, president of the Lancaster Alliance, about two years ago. "He had to grow up a little first," said Howell as Guidry — named for New York Yankees legend Ron Guidry — curled up in an office chair.
"Now he's pretty much furniture."
But Guidry snaps to attention when Howell breaks out his favorite toy, which, early in the morning, gets tossed down a long hallway outside the office door. Furniture becomes animated as Guidry bolts down the corridor, skidding on the tile floor.
Like many office pets, Guidry serves as a stress-reliever when meetings get tense.
"He calms people right down," said Howell. Guidry is also something of a local celebrity; it's his image in the "Let's Play Ball!" sculpture at Lancaster's Rotary Park.
At Cartridge World, an ink and toner supply store in Manheim Township, Kirby, the West Highland white terrier, has a job to do, too.
"He's our greeter," said store owner Mike Szwast, adding that some people stop by just to see Kirby, without buying anything.
"Kirby's more known than I am," lamented Szwast jokingly. But, in addition to greeting, Kirby also earns his place as the star of Cartridge World's print-advertising campaign. He also shows up on the company Web site.
That's an active schedule for any dog. It's all the more impressive because Kirby's soon going to observe his 16th birthday.
"He's an old man!" Szwast said. Not that Kirby is retirement-minded. Every workday morning, "he knows [when] it's time to go," said Szwast.
"He gets that sad look if I don't take him."
And back in downtown Lancaster, Cooper, the Bernese mountain dog, is right at home in the sartorial surroundings of TMB, an upscale men's and women's clothing store, 36-40 N. Queen St. "People like to pet dogs and Cooper is extremely petable," said TMB proprietor Larry Helicher.
Sometimes, Cooper is a personal shopping assistant. "I've had customers ask him which tie he likes," said Helicher. "I can't explain that. It's surreal to me."
Cooper came to TMB almost by accident. Helicher and his wife, Faye, who runs TMB's women's store, were originally going to buy a cat four years ago. The breeder, in West Grove, had cats but asked the Helichers if they wanted to see his litter of Bernese mountain puppies.
That was that — with one condition.
"I said, 'If we get another dog, we have to take the dog to work,' " Helicher said to his wife. "The Bernese mountain dog is a farm dog, and is used to being around people."
And people get used to being around Cooper, even those who are wary at first of the big dog's presence. Faye Helicher recalled a grandfather who came into the store — a customer who knew Cooper — who brought along his 4-year-old granddaughter. As it turned out, the girl was afraid of dogs.
" 'If anyone can get anyone over the fear of dogs, it's Cooper,' " Faye Helicher remembered the man saying.
"Half an hour later, [the girl] was lying on the ground, her head on his belly, sucking her thumb."
Stephen Kopfinger is a Sunday News staff writer. Contact him at skopfinger@lnpnews.com or at 291-8799. 
