11 Bristol workplace pets

In some Bristol workplaces, a pet is as common a sight as a broken printer.

“There were times when I was employed in a proper job (to use the Bristol vernacular) that I thought the day would be enhanced and my productivity increased by having my dog with me,” says award-winning animal photographer Doug Jewell, for who the cats and dogs on this page are striking a pose.

“The fact that the proper job was at the BRI meant this was a non-starter. Bassets and hospitals don’t really mix.”

For others in the city, though, some animal company during the working day is more feasible. Here is a selection of pets in the workplace from around the city:

Alan the Daschund spends his days hanging out at Orca Design on Cheltenham Road. He spends 10 per cent of his day helping out with networking, and 10 per cent shredding office documents.  The other 80% is spent asleep under the desk.

Hercules is one of the Bag o’ Nails’ eight (yes, eight!) cats. He was born on Brandon Hill during a flood and is prone to bullying the other cats in the pub. A bit of a noble thug then. Or the feline equivalent of Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights.

Cocoa is a chocolate Springer spaniel.  Like many Springer spaniels she is rather springy*. Here she is springing into action in the boardroom of E3’s Paintworks offices with Vicky James.

The ss Great Britain’s cat was named Izzy after the ship appealed to the public for help in naming her. They decided not to go with my suggestion of Professor Snuffles. She was a stray who happened to just wander into the ship yard one day and decide it looked a nice place to live.

The Rose of Denmark’s Kojo is a furry ray of sunshine and when he isn’t expertly catching flies likes to pause and contemplate life from his various chill-out zones around the pub.  He has paws that are softer than marshmallows and cannot meow. Kojo was originally called Sapphire but was re-christened when it was discovered she was a he-cat.

Max from Downfield Garage in Clifton is a super- friendly five-year old Labrador with one of the waggiest tails in Bristol. Max’s boundless enthusiasm ensures the garage’s customers receive a meet-and-greet service par excellence.

This is Mo and Mat from coffee connoisseurs Full Court Press on Broad Street. She is an endearingly dumb basset pug cross who helps out around the place by diligently hoovering up any food that gets dropped on the floor. In between hoovering duties she likes chilling out under tables and generally looking cute.

Molly the Labrador strikes a pose with sculptor Carol Peace at her Paintworks studio. Molly isn’t much help during the day as she prefers to take advantage of the massive glass window at the front of studio and sunbathe all day. If Carol has been working too long Molly expresses her displeasure by sighing loudly.

Ripley the Alsatian was named after the Sigourney Weaver character in Alien and passes her days in Fancy Dress Fanatics on Cheltenham Road. She has just turned one but still acts like an oversized puppy who loves following customers around the shop offering them her bone or toy to play with.

Senna is a talkative Hungarian vizsla who likes to watch the world go by in the window of Natural Born Flooring on the Gloucester Road. If he needs to go out for a wee in the day he rings a bell. If you ignore the bell he just rings it progressively louder until his needs are met. He has a penchant for chasing the squirrels in St Andrew’s Park and has taken a fancy to one of the most expensive fluffy carpets in the shop.

Tallulah the labradoodle from Me Me Hair on Alma Vale Road in Clifton enjoys staring out of the salon window all day looking for her best friend, a German pointer called Greta. When not wasting away with longing for Greta she either sleeps or gets barky at a tall skinny greyhound that sometimes wanders past.

Do you want Doug to take a photograph of your shop shih tzu or home hound? Email info@dougjewell.co.uk