Gracie's Big Adventure

Replacements, Ltd. has a pet friendly policy.  Our company allows all well behaved pets to accompany employees and visitors to our facilities.  This is a really, really cool bonus to working here.  On our website, you will find a tri-weekly addition to our "Featured Pet" archive.  I take the time to interview and get images of one of our employees and their pet.  Using that interview, I write a rather cute story and place them on the web.  The response from the readership of our website has been tremendous.  Whenever I'm wandering around Greensboro and wearing my blue and gold Replacements, Ltd. polo, the comment that people most often make is, "That's the company where you can take your pet to work."

My partner, Jeremy, and I have a mutt named "Gracie."  She is some odd canine mix that makes her look a little like Yoda from Star Wars.  Jeremy found her in the parking lot of Lowes Foods, a local grocery store, a little over a year ago.  Gracie is well behaved, smart, and amicable.  However, she is a bit wild.  Heaven forfend that she should get off her leash.  She loves to run and has the speed of a cheetah.

Yesterday, the unthinkable happened.  Gracie jumped the gate in my office, bolted for the door, opened the airlock, and began running around our campus.  She eventually made it into a forested area near the Replacements, Ltd. building.  What happened next is truly a testament to how wonderful this company is.  Several people saw Gracie as she ran from the building.  They met me outside carrying dog treats. 

One in particular, Mary Ciburk, our Safety Coordinator came to my aid.  She met me outside carrying dog treats and said, "What do you call these at home?"  I said that Gracie knew them as "treats."  Apparently, Mary has had some experience with pets on the lam.  While I was hiking back to the building to get me my car, another employee said, "You're a little upset and my car is closer.  Let me me drive."  As Micheal and I were preparing to search by car, Mary came walking to the building carrying a tired and slightly scared Gracie.

My office was full of well-wishers who were concerned over the situation.  Some brought doggie treats, like the ones that most of us keep at our desks.  To all of them, and to the staff of Replacements, Ltd.  I have to say "Thank you."  Replacements, Ltd. is truly a fun place to work and the people here really do care.  This says so much to me about our corporate spirit.  You know that you work at a great company when your fellow employees are more than just team mates. 

Gracie is fine now.  She is resting at home today after her big adventure.  Of course, I will bring her back to work - she loves it here!  My team mates love Gracie.  Dogs will be dogs and accidents happen.  What is truly unique about Replacements, Ltd. is that so many people care and are willing to help when there are incidents like that one the occurred with my rogue, albeit, lovable Gracie.