Meet Negão, the Gas Station Dog
What would you think if you went to fill up at the gas station and a four-legged employee greeted you? Well, if you’re anything like Negão’s customers, you’d love it. Read on, and meet the gas station dog!
Negão’s story
Some customers might wonder how a dog could possibly work at a gas station. But that’s before they see him in action. Negão has no problem tending to customers, and even won an award for his excellent customer service skills.
Negão’s story began four years ago. It all started when a woman called Sabrina Plannerer and her husband decided to buy a service station. The gas station, which was under construction at the time, is in the Brazilian city of Mogi das Cruzes.
When they arrived at the construction site, they discovered that the gas station came with a little extra something. A four-legged guest was running around the site, where his previous owners had abandoned him. The couple couldn’t simply abandon him or take him to an animal shelter, as they assumed he had been living at the gas station for some time.
Sabrina immediately made the decision to adopt him. They made sure he got everything he needed, including a trip to the vet for vaccinations and de-worming treatment. They bought him a bag of food, his own doghouse, and a leash so they could take him for walks.
The gas station dog
When the gas station opened, Negão (which means “black” in Portuguese) had a new home where he finally had all the love he deserved… and he even got a job! When the owners of the gas station realized just how much he loved meeting new people, they decided to get him involved with the business.
According to his owners, the little dog is a natural at attracting clients. As an official gas station employee, he even has his own badge with his name on. He’s also considered a master of customer service, and always comes to work with a wag in his tail, ready to greet his customers.
In an interview, owner Sabrina told how he waits for people to arrive before running up to say hello. Some regulars even bring toys and treats with them. Negão has become the poster-pup for a local initiative led by the charity Grupo FERA. The charity aims to rehome stray dogs with the aid of local businesses. According to a charity spokesperson, people love having a four-legged colleague, and find it makes work more bearable.
Take your dog to work day
More and more companies are allowing their employees to bring their dogs into work. Allowing dogs at work has been proven to reduce stress, and to make workers more productive. According to a study by the Virginia Commonwealth University in the US, employees that could spend the working day with their pets had greater job satisfaction, and went home feeling happier and more relaxed.
Allowing pets into the office can also raise morale and reduce anxiety. And the good news is that it doesn’t just benefit the owner, but their colleagues as well.
During the study, investigators analyzed the mood of a group of factory workers who brought their pets to work with them for a week. Results showed that stress levels fell, while employee satisfaction, commitment and support between colleagues noticeably increased.
Over the course of the day, participants seemed happier and less tired when they had a four-legged friend at their side. Having an office dog is a real advantage that promotes cooperation, reduces tension and increases productivity.
As long as the dogs behave, and don’t attack or bark at strangers, a company can allow employees to bring dogs to the office, store or factory once a week.