Local pup Maggie has been named Australia’s Top Office Dog in the OZTOPDOG 2024 competition.
Penrith resident Emily Smith got the staffy in June of this year.
“Maggie was a rehoming. Her old owner wasn’t able to look after her and they asked if there was anyone who knew her who was able to look after her, and I was like, ‘Yes!” she said.
Smith works from home for an online youth mental health organisation. Though because of this Maggie can’t be an office dog in the traditional sense, Smith said that her contribution to her team is integral.
“I have a team who I help, and I often bring her in on those calls, and it just lights everyone up, seeing her in there and hearing her little noises,” she said.
“Part of my work, at times, it is heavy, and if you’re on your own it isn’t as easy as walking out in an office and being able to have a chat. It helps having her there, knowing I’m not on my own, and I’m able to take a break and have a walk with her and hang out a little bit.”
Smith discovered the OZTOPDOG competition earlier this year after seeing it online, and thought it was the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about the affect dogs like Maggie can have.
“Everyone I work with has talked about the impact that Maggie has had on them, and I didn’t think we would win, but I entered her anyway because I was hoping that we could raise awareness about mental health, and the impact animals can have when you’re working from home,” she said.
So, it was a huge shock when Maggie was announced as the winner last week.
“I was just amazed that they were able to recognise her impact over a screen, because I feel like that’s something that’s not spoken about enough – the impact that animals can have on a team,” she said.
“Usually, for mental health, it’s the impact that animals have on the person who’s receiving help, rather than for the people who work there.”
Smith said she’s also hoping that this will raise the profile of staffies as a breed.
“I think a lot of people don’t realise how much love and care they have, and how they’re able to just sense emotions,” she said.
“They’re always lovely to be around – really big babies!”
Cassidy Pearce
Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022.