by Kim D'Amico

White Horse is a smart agency, and we’re damn proud of our many awards, distinctions and certifications. For example, our esteemed VP, Eric Anderson, was recently named one of iMedia’s Top 25 Marketing Leaders and Innovators of 2011. Impressive – right? And our CEO, Jen Modarelli, is a digital celebrity in her own right, blogging for AdAge, and speaking at conferences and seminars around the country (and occasionally even abroad). Not to mention the fact that we’re fortunate enough to work with many very recognizable global brands – Schlage, Trane, Mountain Hardwear and Cisco, among others.

Needless to say, the list of what makes White Horse a great agency is long and provides us with legit bragging rights. But what makes White Horse special to us folks who show up here every day to service clients, keep projects moving and on schedule, and keep our clients and ourselves ahead of the trends and on top of the competition? It might not be something you’d readily guess, in fact, it’s strictly prohibited in most professional workplaces. It’s the fact that at this very moment, my dog, Alice, is curled up on the floor of my office, ripping up a toy and shedding all over the carpet.

That’s right; White Horse’s world headquarters is officially a dog-friendly workplace. Dogs are not only welcome, but strongly encouraged. It’s not uncommon for new hire candidates to be asked at some point before the end of the interview process if (a) they like dogs and more importantly, (b) if they have a dog. I don’t think we inquire about allergies.

Beyond Alice’s semi-regular appearances, we also have Shay, Eric’s golden, who escorts him to work 2-3 times a week, Daisy, our Director of Project Management Katherine Cochran’s enormous Saint Bernard mix, and Baxter, our Accountant Candace Callaway’s bug-eyed Boston terrier. We have fond memories of past employee’s pooches (Otis and Taj, we miss you), and we’ve even named one of our conference rooms after Jen’s dearly departed flat-coat retriever (RIP Bird Dog).

So why welcome the four legged beasts into our place of business and weave them into our agency culture? I was actually curious, so asked our CEO what originally motivated her to enact the policy: “I loved bringing my dog to work, and I thought other people would too. The team works long hours, and it’s nice to break up a long day with a walk outside or a quick game of fetch. Everyone seems to love it. When a dog is around, everyone just seems happier.”

Jen’s sentiments, while not common, are shared by some large companies who also understand the benefits of bringing your best friend to work. Dog-progressive employers believe it actually increases productivity and improves collaboration and relationships among colleagues. Heard of Google? They have a Dog Policy written into their corporate Code of Conduct (bummer for cat people). Autodesk, a company of 7,000, allows dogs, and even provides discounted pet insurance as an employee perk.

Welcome as they are, I sometimes worry that my ill-behaved unruly fetching machine (she’s a lab), bothers some of the folks who are less than dog crazy and don’t appreciate being jumped on and slobbered on, so I thought I‘d ask around and find out (for better or for worse), how the ranks really feel about having her and the other dogs around. I got a thumbs-up from Daniela, our SEO and paid media guru, who shares a corner of the building with me and says, “I like it when you bring Alice. It makes it fun around here. I think you’re more worried about her behavior than anyone else is!” Bless you, Daniela, I will rest easy that I’m not a complete failure as a dog parent.

Will, our Director of Digital Futures, doesn’t have a dog, so I had secretly questioned his love for the four-legged. “My wife is allergic, which is why we don’t have a dog or any pet. I love pets, and I think having dogs at White Horse instantly humanizes the place. Not that we’re…inhuman…but it makes it friendlier.” Megan, a Sr. Project Manager, feels similarly, and although not ready to commit to a pooch of her own, she gets plenty of puppy love at work, “I like all the dogs here. I miss Vicky (Queen Victoria the Bull Dog who came to work with our former Marketing Manager). Having dogs around diffuses tension and they’re easier than babies.” Indeed.

So it looks like White Horse has permanently gone to the dogs (yeah, I said that). So if and when you become a client, don’t be surprised if during a meeting in our building you have a slobbery tennis ball dropped at your feet, hear a good-natured ‘woof,’ or witness Alice ‘the yellow cyclone’ tearing around looking for trouble. Our canines keep us happy, healthy, relaxed and dedicated, if not a bit hairy as well.