In Poznan, a Ukrainian dog became part of the municipal dance theatre's repertoire

The trend of coexistence between people and animals in the workplace

The idea that employees can come to work with their pets is gradually becoming a reality. Although for the European Union and Ukraine this is still more of an exception than a rule, the global trend towards creating pet-friendly (dog-friendly) workplaces continues to develop. In this regard, an analysis of job vacancies published by Euronews in July 2026 showed that the largest share of listings specifying the possibility of being in the office with a dog went to the United Kingdom — 64%. In Germany, this figure was 45%, in the US — 42%, in Australia — 32%, in France and the Netherlands — 28% each, and in Spain — 27%. Such practices are prevalent primarily in the fields of communications, marketing, publishing, creative industries, tech companies, and offices with flexible work formats.

The impact of employer policies on career choices

Some transnational corporations, including Mars, Google, Amazon, Etsy, XING, and The Adaptavist Group, officially implement policies that allow employees to bring dogs to the office. At the same time, rules may vary depending on the country, specific department, and internal company regulations, so an employer's international status does not always guarantee such an opportunity.

The Mars Pet-Friendly Advantage 2026 study found that employees in Romania (65%), Greece (64%), and Hungary (63%) most frequently stated their willingness to change jobs for an employer that allows them to come to work with a pet. In Poland, 56% of respondents shared this view.

European experience: from Italy to Portugal

In many European countries, the presence of animals in public places is a common phenomenon. In Italy, dogs often accompany their owners to cafes, bars, and small shops, especially if it is a family business. In Spain, particularly in Madrid and Barcelona, the culture of pet-friendly establishments is also noticeable: many cafes, restaurants, bookstores, and shops allow visitors to come with their pets.

Portugal stands out for its legal framework, which explicitly provides for the possibility of keeping pets in the indoor premises of restaurants and beverage establishments. This is possible subject to the owner's permission and compliance with established rules. An establishment may allow access to the entire space for visitors or only to a designated part of it, giving entrepreneurs flexibility in forming their own policy regarding comfort for all clients.

Polish Dance Theatre: a unique approach

Among the various businesses that allow animals, the Polish Dance Theatre in Poznan stands out for particular attention. This municipal institution allows both employees and visitors to come with dogs. The owner is responsible for the animal's behaviour, while it is important that the animal itself feels comfortable among people and music.

This tradition was started by the theatre director Iwona Paszynska, who in 2022 rescued a small dog from Ukraine. He quickly became not only part of the team but also an active participant in performances.

The story of the dog Spinner

The dog's name is Spinner, and it was precisely because of the war that he was looking for a new family. In April 2022, he was found in a critical condition in Boryspil near Kyiv. Polish biologist and animal rights activist Ewa Zgrabinska, who had been helping to rescue Ukrainian animals since early 2022, facilitated bringing Spinner to Poznan. He quickly became a member of the Polish Dance Theatre troupe until the end of his life.

The theatre had many other "tailed" guests: dancer Adriana Cygankiewicz's rat Hector travelled around Poland, leaving traces on hotel sheets; cat Elvis, Przemyslaw Gzondziela's dog, and Anna Kotek's shepherd were also frequent guests at rehearsals. Theatre staff sheltered numerous cats. The author of the article met the chief legal officer with dogs Nyunya and Oti (mother and daughter), a producer with a spaniel, and even a security guard who came on weekends with an old dog because there was no one to leave it with.

Spinner in the world of art and educational projects

The Ukrainian Spinner lived a vibrant theatrical life: he became a favourite of the troupe, participated in performances and filming, loved attention, and enthusiastically perceived dance creativity. Some performances ended with his tail wagging to the applause of the audience. Unfortunately, due to an incurable illness, he passed away in 2025, but he remains forever in the history of the theatre and the Polish dance scene.

It is worth noting that since 2021, the theatre has created a special educational project — the first children's play in the permanent repertoire, "KoczkodanSe", staged in the 2021/2022 season in cooperation with the Poznan Zoo. The play is dedicated to the interaction between people and animals and the idea of mutually beneficial relationships between them. The theatre team also organised a travelling exhibition at the zoo about the burning of ivory — fragments of the sick tusks of the elephant Ninio, which became a protest against the ivory trade regardless of its origin.

Revising attitudes towards animals

Since humanity is gradually displacing animals from the planet, it is necessary to revise our attitude towards "lesser brothers and sisters" to preserve biodiversity for future generations. The presence of animals not only improves life but also changes the atmosphere. The author expresses a dream of seeing tailed animals in the Verkhovna Rada, believing that this would contribute to reducing the number of stray animals.