Caroline Springs’ very own staffordshire bull terrier, Violet, has been crowned the top office dog for 2023.
Violet was awarded the title as part of people2people recruitment’s #OZTOPDOG competition which celebrates dogs across Australia who have taken on important roles and responsibilities.
Taking centre stage, the resilient pup was born with a deformed front leg, and was surrendered at just one week old.
The top office dog category had the judges deliberating for hours to decide between the top two entries, Violet and runner-up Australian shepherd Zard.
Violet has emerged as a source of inspiration for her workplace at a local veterinary clinic, where she was first embraced as a baby and bottle-fed by every member of the clinic.
Veterinarian Dr Gloria Perkovic said Violet brings joy to the workplace and is a beloved colleague amongst the staff at the clinic.
“She forces people to take a break, and it is sometimes really hard to pull yourself away from work but just having Violet there really encourages staff to take some time away from working,” she said.
“Violet has a really playful personality and is just so joyous. She loves getting people to give her a part or cuddle, and really helps them to feel calmer and take some time to spend with her.”
The Australian Veterinary Association reports that veterinarians have been shown to be up to four times more likely to die by suicide compared to the general population.
The competition highlights the positive effects office dogs can have on the workplace environment, and encourages further support for pet-friendly workplaces.
Hannah Hammoud
