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FUR BABIES AT WORK: Purina Pets is calling next Thursday, August 4, Pets at Work Day. It’s the one day you can take your furry friends to work for cuddles by the water cooler without being frowned upon. Obviously workers will need to check with the boss before dragging their dog by the lead into the office on Thursday and here are some Purina tips to set it up — get management and staff on board; work with management to establish guidelines, like which types of pets can come to work; establish a few ‘‘pet-free’’ areas in the office (areas like rest rooms, food preparation areas and conference rooms); and ask about any pet allergies in the office and find ways to respect others’ comfort with pets. Purina’s other tips to make the day run smoothly include make sure you have water bowls on hand for thirsty pets, a nice warm spot for them to curl up; some toys to entertain them; and, if you’ve got cats coming in, a litter box or two probably won’t go astray. It’s also a good idea to put a sign on your front door letting visitors know that there are pets running loose in the office, so they can be aware not to leave doors open and to expect a friendly sniff when they arrive. This morale-boosting initiative won’t suit every work place but Purina reckon we would be barking mad if we ignore the benefits. For more information go to:

purina.co.nz GO BANANAS: OOB Organic has claimed a New Zealand first with the launch of its new frozen banana product. Sliced Bananas give shoppers the opportunity to enjoy certified organic bananas in a portioncontrolled way. While smoothies are the most popular use for frozen fruit, Sliced Bananas can be used in anything from baking to cooking or a snack. From New World and Pak ‘n Save supermarkets. $6 TO submit a new product or service for this column, send information to: Belinda Kerr, The Dominion Post, Level 7, Spark Central, 42-52 Willis St, Wellington, 6011; or PO Box 3740, Wellington, 6140. Or email details to: Belinda.Kerr@fairfaxmedia.co.nz