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Reading Angela Webber’s recent story about workers who bring dogs to construction job sites, I recalled fond memories of聽workplace experiences with my beloved Springer Spaniel, Rex, who spent most of his 鈥済rowing up鈥� years riding in the cabs of various excavators.

It was in the late ’90s while living in Key West, Fla., that my husband, a founding partner for聽 the , was involved with the company’s construction from the beginning concept to final completion (about three years total).聽 Being on a small island, I was at the job site regularly. The first time I saw my 鈥渂aby鈥� riding on the cab seat with his tongue hanging out, having a blast, the mom in me freaked thinking only of the danger. But isn’t everything dangerous when you think about it?聽 When your time is up, it’s up.

And not to worry, I soon discovered all the workers took very good care of Rex, and he was clearly having the time of his life.聽 In fact, it became not at all unusual for me or my husband to show up in the morning with Rex and be greeted with, 鈥淗ey! Rex is here!鈥� No offense taken by us 鈥� after all, Rex was about the coolest dog that ever lived.

In addition to joyriding on backhoes and excavators, Rex also enjoyed 鈥渃leaning up鈥� after the crew by picking up various beverage (beer) caps and bringing them to us for us to throw for him, just like a ball.聽 Yes, he was unusual in this way, but he kept us all amused and in really good spirits.

There’s a lot of truth to the studies that have shown that having a pet-friendly workplace is great for morale and performance, and why wouldn’t the same hold聽true for construction sites?聽聽In fact, when Rex wasn’t at the Conch Republic Seafood job site 鈥渉elping鈥� with the construction, he would be at my office hanging out with me聽in my role as then-publisher of Florida Keys Magazine. I think we’d all be much more productive, certainly happier, and better聽able to聽deal with the stress and deadlines in our lives if only 鈥溾�� could be every day.聽 Thanks, Angela, for bringing back the memories.聽聽Rex 鈥� RIP.

-Rynni Henderson