Bringing dog to my V10 firm’s office Forum

[becodalapa]

OP here. Seems like the dog to work thing may be pushing it. Would your answer change if it was a cat?

Not for me. In fact, it's probably weirder since cats, in my experience, tend to enjoy the experience of traveling and meeting new humans less than dogs do. I love cats and I love dogs, but asking to bring either to the office is ridiculous to the point that I have a hard time believing this is a serious question. Service animals are a totally different story, of course, but ordinary companion animals really don't belong in the office.

I also think it's weird that you think the V10 distinction is relevant here.

[Anonymous User]

Not sure why so many negative responses.
...
Wouldn’t expect to be the norm, but I don’t think it’s crazy to ask.

It's crazy to ask.

Agreed. clueless and entitled request, likely made by the same people who bring golden retrievers onto commercial flights because their soft-ass doctor wrote a note.

Hey, I bring my golden retriever on flights after my doctor wrote a note...for my combat PTSD after getting blown up on my third deployment during my time in Special Operations.

Also, way to single out Golden Retrievers, arguably the V5 of pets. You probably own a hamster with that attitude.

Unfortunately for every one of you (type of person for whom exception was truly meant to help) there are people abusing it.

MOD NOTE: User Res Ipsa Loquitter outed for anon abuse. Sexist comment deleted.

[eastcoast_iub]

Why stop with dogs? Can I bring my cat and put her litter box in the copy room? Bird cage in the bathroom?

[blair.waldorf]

Not sure why so many negative responses.

A bring-your-dog-to-work day has been seriously discussed at least at one major K&E office, so assume it has been at other major firms. The reason it can’t currently happen is that the owner of the building in question is not on board. I imagine that, as firms adjust to hybrid work styles and try to find carrots to bring folks into the office, there will be some firms with landlords that are okay with the concept, or move into new spaces as leases come up for renewal that are less traditional.

Wouldn’t expect to be the norm, but I don’t think it’s crazy to ask.

Agreed. My dog is ten pounds and extremely well trained. I bring her everywhere that dogs are allowed and would love to bring her to the office. She would probably just sleep at my feet most of the day.

Google allows dogs in the office. I’m sure other companies do as well. Like you said, I doubt it becomes the norm, but it’s not an insane request.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Seems like the dog to work thing may be pushing it. Would your answer change if it was a cat?

That is an even more insane request, especially because cats don’t generally enjoy meeting new people in a new setting. I think asking about either of these shows poor judgment. If a partner has a dog they love you could pitch a bring your dog to work Thursday or Friday but that’s about as far as I’d go.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

This generation of juniors needs to realize that biglaw is not free money. If you concentrate on you, yourself, and what the firm can do for you — expect to be out on your ass.

[nixy]

Unfortunately for every one of you (type of person for whom exception was truly meant to help) there are people abusing it. Mostly it’s young women who’ve never heard the word “No” let alone gone to war.

What in the flying fuck

[nixy]

OP here. Seems like the dog to work thing may be pushing it. Would your answer change if it was a cat?

Lol okay you pushed the troll just too far.

[Anonymous User]

Not sure why so many negative responses.

A bring-your-dog-to-work day has been seriously discussed at least at one major K&E office, so assume it has been at other major firms. The reason it can’t currently happen is that the owner of the building in question is not on board. I imagine that, as firms adjust to hybrid work styles and try to find carrots to bring folks into the office, there will be some firms with landlords that are okay with the concept, or move into new spaces as leases come up for renewal that are less traditional.

Wouldn’t expect to be the norm, but I don’t think it’s crazy to ask.

Key here is bring to work day, which means you don't bring to work rest of the year.

[Anonymous User]

Unfortunately for every one of you (type of person for whom exception was truly meant to help) there are people abusing it. Mostly it’s young women who’ve never heard the word “No” let alone gone to war.

What in the flying fuck

Sorry. Forgot that (I) acknowledging gender exists or (ii) blaming women for anything was a hanging offense.

[Sackboy]

Unfortunately for every one of you (type of person for whom exception was truly meant to help) there are people abusing it. Mostly it’s young women who’ve never heard the word “No” let alone gone to war.

What in the flying fuck

With takes like this, I'm so glad the forum's anon policy is so well followed and not abused and that the moderators aren't a completely useless bunch that refuses to enforce it.

Look forward to my next 7 day ban for shitting on the useless mods.

[Anonymous User]

This generation of juniors needs to realize that biglaw is not free money. If you concentrate on you, yourself, and what the firm can do for you — expect to be out on your ass.

Please step down from the soap box in your studio apartment.

Keep the discussion focused on cats, dogs, RTO, or spring bonuses if you must venture off topic. Trying to keep the boomer talk to a minimum.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

This generation of juniors needs to realize that biglaw is not free money. If you concentrate on you, yourself, and what the firm can do for you — expect to be out on your ass.

Please step down from the soap box in your studio apartment.

Keep the discussion focused on cats, dogs, RTO, or spring bonuses if you must venture off topic. Trying to keep the boomer talk to a minimum.

True one bedroom! Look, if somebody’s firm tells them they can bring their dog, then they should bring their dog if they want. But this is not something associates should be asking for out of the blue.

[Anonymous User]

This generation of juniors needs to realize that biglaw is not free money. If you concentrate on you, yourself, and what the firm can do for you — expect to be out on your ass.

Please step down from the soap box in your studio apartment.

Keep the discussion focused on cats, dogs, RTO, or spring bonuses if you must venture off topic. Trying to keep the boomer talk to a minimum.

True one bedroom! Look, if somebody’s firm tells them they can bring their dog, then they should bring their dog if they want. But this is not something associates should be asking for out of the blue.

Diff anon but I think the issue isn't the pets anymore, just the "it's not free money ur fired" rhetoric. Unnecessary.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

This generation of juniors needs to realize that biglaw is not free money. If you concentrate on you, yourself, and what the firm can do for you — expect to be out on your ass.

Please step down from the soap box in your studio apartment.

Keep the discussion focused on cats, dogs, RTO, or spring bonuses if you must venture off topic. Trying to keep the boomer talk to a minimum.

True one bedroom! Look, if somebody’s firm tells them they can bring their dog, then they should bring their dog if they want. But this is not something associates should be asking for out of the blue.

Diff anon but I think the issue isn't the pets anymore, just the "it's not free money ur fired" rhetoric. Unnecessary.

Sometimes, in a discussion, other people will say things that you don't agree with. That doesn't make the comments unnecessary, nor does it make them rhetorical in nature.

[CanadianWolf]

Does your firm represent Purina ?

[Anonymous User]

[P]eople always thing their dogs are well trained and cute, but they are often wrong. Most importantly, some people are flat out scared of dogs, even your sweet little whatever, so it’s really insensitive to impose that on someone.

^ x 1,000,000

My dog only barks at unreasonable opposing counsel or screamer partners. I see no problem with either of those.

[Anonymous User]

This came up at the v10 I lateraled out of. It was not popular with most attorneys but was pushed hard by a few attorneys who generally self described as "dog moms".

Thread basically sums up what were generally the two attitudes. 1. Its totally normal for me to want to take little pibbles everywhere and you need to deal with him, or 2. No one wants to deal with other people's pets in an office. The people in option 1 were generally the same people certifying their animals as "emotional support" to abuse ADA rules.

[Prudent_Jurist]

If I were OP, I’d go work here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1v6wYnTfiZ0

[Anonymous User]

This came up at the v10 I lateraled out of. It was not popular with most attorneys but was pushed hard by a few attorneys who generally self described as "dog moms".

Thread basically sums up what were generally the two attitudes. 1. Its totally normal for me to want to take little pibbles everywhere and you need to deal with him, or 2. No one wants to deal with other people's pets in an office. The people in option 1 were generally the same people certifying their animals as "emotional support" to abuse ADA rules.

Dog mom is such an interesting comparison. As a human parent, I would never bring my kids to work. Maybe in some emergency scenario.

[Anonymous User]

This came up at the v10 I lateraled out of. It was not popular with most attorneys but was pushed hard by a few attorneys who generally self described as "dog moms".

Thread basically sums up what were generally the two attitudes. 1. Its totally normal for me to want to take little pibbles everywhere and you need to deal with him, or 2. No one wants to deal with other people's pets in an office. The people in option 1 were generally the same people certifying their animals as "emotional support" to abuse ADA rules.

Dog mom is such an interesting comparison. As a human parent, I would never bring my kids to work. Maybe in some emergency scenario.

Just enjoy this phrasing and will use it from now on.

[Anonymous User]

Just my own personal experience. I had someone do this in my office (V100, CA) and I thought it was kinda unprofessional and distracting. This might be a different situation because they were literally playing fetch with the dog in the halls and it was running in and out of my office (I suppose I could have closed my door, but I like leaving it open in case anyone needs to pop by about anything). You can pay for a dogsitter if you're worried that your dog isn't getting enough socialization, but the downsides of potentially pissing off your co-workers isn't worth it. You never know who doesn't love dogs, who is highly allergic, etc, and having one forced on you in the office isn't great.

[Anonymous User]

There's a federal judge who does this and it was super annoying. The dog mostly sat in a dog bed in the front room of chambers, which, whatever. But occasionally the dog would bark at people coming into the office and could be heard throughout the hall and was super annoying, and on more than one occasion, peed on the (carpeted) floor.

[Anonymous User]

I work in the NY office of a litigation boutique, bring my dog in about once a month without any issues. Partners actually encourage it, most of the associates have dogs so we coordinate and make a day of it. Probably different in the biglaw setting but why not try it out for a day and see how it goes? Worst case someone says they don't like it and that's that.

[Anonymous User]

There's a federal judge who does this and it was super annoying. The dog mostly sat in a dog bed in the front room of chambers, which, whatever. But occasionally the dog would bark at people coming into the office and could be heard throughout the hall and was super annoying, and on more than one occasion, peed on the (carpeted) floor.

I know of a few judges that do this. One famously carried their show dogs with them on the bench and made their clerks walk them. But whining about that as a law clerk was probably not tolerated.