Staff Photo by Gillian Bolsover Abigail greets a customer entering Winder Binder Gallery Saturday. Gallery owner David Smotherman lives in the building, which makes it easy for him to brings his two dogs to work.
Rochelle Bolton goes to work with her two best friends every day. And once they get to work, her friends sleep most of the day.
For the owner of Glam Slam Consignment Boutique in Hixson, having her two dogs with her all day at work is one of the best perks of owning her own business.
"They've just always been an inspiration for me to have at work with me," Ms. Bolton said. "They are a source of comfort and happiness, and they definitely serve as boutique greeters. My customers just absolutely love and adore them."
Around the Chattanooga area, business people from architects and engineers to shop owners keep their pets close during the work day. The dogs stay with them as a source of comfort, but for some it is a necessity because they want their dogs to have some freedom and human interaction during the day.
David Smotherman's Winder Binder Gallery of Folk Art on the North Shore has always been home to dogs during the work day.
While he loves their company, the biggest reason for bringing them to the shop is simply so they won't be alone.
"I don't think it would be fair to have to leave them locked up for 16 hours," he said.
When he opened the shop 15 years ago, he brought his dog Nala in every day until she died three years ago. She remains close by, however, because Mr. Smotherman used her image to make the logo for the shop.
These days, his dogs Abigail and Ella keep the shop running together. Abigail is a smaller 11-year-old mix and Ella a big 3-year-old mix that Mr. Smotherman adopted from the Humane Society. They've become popular with customers, who often come in just to see the dogs, he said.
"No matter how long the day is, you would think you are the first person that's given them any attention because they come up to every single person who comes in," Mr. Smotherman said.
It's not unusual to have dogs sitting in meetings at local civil engineering firm Miller-McCoy Inc. Owner Wayne McCoy brings Goldie and Gypsy in every morning, and they've even got a routine. He opens the back door to his 1992 Grand Marquis and they jump in the back.
"They ride back there like I'm their chauffeur," he said.
Having a pet is a big responsibility and one he doesn't take lightly, so leaving the dogs locked up all day while he works is not an option.
Most dog owners who bring their furry friends to work realize that not everyone loves dogs, so they take care to keep the dogs out of the way. Ms. Bolton keeps her 10-year-old Pug, Mia, and her 3-year-old Puggle, Macy, behind the counter where they have big, fluffy beds designated for each dog. But Ms. Norton doesn't mind that her dogs seem spoiled.
"Once I decided to go into business for myself, one of my primary goals was to be in business where I could take my dogs with me, because they are just like my children," she said.
Most of the time people don't mind the dogs in the shop, instead they are jealous, said Mr. Smotherman. His customers often tell him they wish they could bring their own dogs to work with them, and he tells them he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I couldn't imagine the store without them," he said. "I think it would be much quieter and much lonelier."
