Dan's Papers - June 29, 2007

Did you see it in the newspaper? How certain employers or employees bring their pets to work? Trouble is, all the businesses mentioned in the paper were up-island or on the South Fork. What's the matter? The North Fork has no pets? Or our business owners are all allergic, worse yet - heartless?

Not so on any count. North Forkers, have pets, lots of them. And in any number of cases, those pets accompany their owners to work.

We'll start small at Suffolk County National Bank on Main Road in Cutchogue. That's where I bank. (I should say withdraw.)

Remember that old song about the three little fishes that swam and swam right over the dam? Well, those fish swam right smack into three small glass bowls that sit atop a counter inside the bank.

First, there's Floyd, sleeping in his bowl, and then Julius, swimming like crazy in his. Julius is nicknamed Spike and seems happiest when addressed as such. Finally, there's J.T. The poor thing doesn't even have a full name, much less a nickname. But he's cute and that counts, doesn't it? All three are Siamese Fighting Fish. Fierce-sounding enough to scare off any bank robbers, I think.

I spoke with Eve Gatz, a financial service representative at the bank, who said the fish trio dines on brine shrimp and fish flakes. And they are spoiled. Customers all notice them and smile at them. That's pretty much what we want for ourselves, when you think about it.

Anyway, Eve said the fish have been at the bank for several years and it all came about because of a film employees were shown. One of those motivational things about how to be happy in your work and keep the customers happy, too. The film was "Fish Philosophy" and after staff members saw it they rushed right out and got some swimmers for the bank.

You know, Eve, I'm glad the film wasn't titled "Elephant Effect" or "Wolf At Work." You couldn't put those guys in glass bowls.

Further east, in Southold, you might want to start singing another old song. Just how much is that doggie in the window, the one with the waggly tail? For in Old Country Charm on the corner of Main Road and Beckwith Avenue, you'll meet Ginger, the 11-year-old retriever belonging to the gift shop's owner, Edith Mullen.

On warm sunny days, Ginger snoozes on the sidewalk in front of the shop while customers enter around her, searching for gifts of jewelry, crystal, china - all kinds of beautiful stuff. Including a great fabric collection.

On wintry days, Ginger dozes just inside the front door. Even on cold days, you'll see Ginger and Edith walking on Beckwith Avenue. Who's minding the store? Edith's longtime assistant, Evelyn, and Edith's son, Duane.

By the way, I bet Edith sings the doggie song, too. Especially the lyrics "I don't want a bowl of little fishies. You can't take a fish for a walk."

If Ginger and Edith take a really long walk, say to Greenport, I hope they stop in at Lydia's Antiques and Stained Glass on Main Street. For owner, Lydia Abatelli, has three golden retrievers that might want to meet Ginger. Lydia brings one dog per day to work. For example, Annie on a Monday, perhaps Peaches, Annie's daughter, on a Tuesday, and Baxter Boy on a Wednesday. Lydia said some customers come by just to see the dogs - even bringing doggie treats and doggie toys.

Oh, and let's not overlook Kiwi, the cat-in-residence at North Fork Audubon's Red House in Greenport. Kiwi may acknowledge a visitor's presence or choose instead to investigate Audubon's acres of wooded trails. Or perhaps walk along the Long Island Sound shoreline. After all, if you're the cat-in-residence, you do as you wish. North Fork aristocat, indeed.

Fish, dogs, cats - or most any other pet. They're perfect for our North Fork workplace. They request no overtime pay, don't need time off to go to parent-teacher conferences and rarely make a personal phone call.