Originally published in the Bangor Daily News on September 21, 2012.

There is ample evidence, both anecdotal and scientific, that having dogs in the workplace can reduce stress and offer opportunities for exercise and non work-related interaction among employees.

But bringing pets into the workplace also raises questions business owners shouldn’t ignore. Such as, what if the office dog bites someone? What if an employee or customer is allergic? What are the liability and insurance concerns?

Additionally, there are myriad other factors a business owner should keep in mind when it comes to service animals in a business, whether those of an employee or, if it’s a retail or hospitality environment, of a customer.

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