There are two things that keep me from having pets -- 1) beautiful hardwood floors and 2) my husband.

There's something wonderful about walking on hardwood floors and before I moved into our house, I asked my husband if we could take out the 7 different types of flooring, from tile to berber carpet, and have hardwood put in. He said "yes" and chose an unfinished Brazilian cherry to match our cabinets. I was in heaven and truly love walking into our home.

I'm just kidding with my second reason of why I don't have pets. Since I spend a considerable amount of time on the road, my husband reminds me that pets need to be cared for 24 x 7 -- not just when I'm in town -- and so I give him the credit for making me realize why this would be a challenge. He, however, has found a place for me to get my pet fix. It's a bed and breakfast in the northwoods of Ashland, Wisconsin, where he grew up. The owners of the Inn at Timber Cove have two beautiful daughters and two wonderful dogs. On our visits, I take the dogs for a walk in the morning and play with them in the afternoon. While it is 6 months in between visits, they remember me when I return and I feel as if they're "my" pets.

Everytime we pull up to the Inn at Timber Cove, I think about why having pets is important. What do dogs "bring to the table" that so many people want them? I believe one of the pieces of research I cite in my leadership classes holds the key. Most people don't get enough recognition or praise in their daily life and dogs love you no matter what. They're comforting and look forward to seeing you that you can't help but smile. Being appreciated or valued is what all humans need and so often what too few get at work and sometimes at home.

If organizations aren't going to recognize their employees, maybe they should think about investing in a few dogs to walk over lunch. I certainly would be inclined to work there!

www.innattimbercove.com