We have three dogs in our family… YES, three dogs.
Dog #1, Mocha, was intentional. Like many other families, we picked her up during COVID because we were bored and thought it was the right thing to do.
In 2022, while on a trip to Salt Lake City for the Junior Olympics, we picked up Dyson while cruising a strip mall. He was not intentional. He was an impulsive pick-up and a consolation prize for my oldest daughter, who got eliminated in the first round of her fencing competition. Both Mocha and Dyson were intended to be office dogs (our excuse to justify the acquisitions), but for various reasons—mostly behavioral—neither was a good fit. Sure, we could’ve sent them to obedience school, but where’s the fun in that?
Which brings us to Alfy, dog #3—a funny-looking, mixed-breed terrier we ALSO picked up during a fencing tournament in Columbus, Ohio, in March 2024. Is there a lesson here? Maybe it’s that we should stop attending out-of-state fencing tournaments before we escalate our animal acquisitions and end up with a monkey.
We gave serious thought to having an office dog, especially with hypochondriac patients or those who might be allergic. All of our dogs are mixed breeds that don’t shed much, so dander isn’t a major issue.
What about legality and liability? In California, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state law, service animals don’t need special certifications or identifying vests and don’t have to be professionally trained. Emotional support animals, on the other hand, aren’t recognized as service animals and are subject to the practice’s discretion, ideally with a clear policy in place. At minimum, animals need to be housebroken, non-odorous, and non-aggressive. Alfy checks all the boxes—so he became our full-time office dog.
And, honestly? It’s been amazing. Patients (most of them) love dogs. Alfy has become our most requested “provider,” with over a dozen patients now requesting—nay, requiring—him to be present for their appointments. Sure, a few patients prefer he stays out of the operatory, but I’d estimate that 90% of them welcome him. Notably, even some of our most difficult patients have completely relaxed and shifted their attitudes when Alfy is around. I’m not saying there’s a direct link between Alfy and our 20% increase in net production—but the timing is suspiciously aligned.
A quick story: last week, Alfy slipped out when a patient left the front door open. Norma, our assistant, scoured the area and found him at the Scripps Clinic lab across the street, belly up and getting rubs from the nurses. They later dropped off homemade treats and invited Alfy—not the team—to their company picnic.
I’m not necessarily suggesting you get an office pet, but I have to admit—it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made.
To your success,
Michael Lomotan
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