Meet Rusty

Breed:  Westy-Poo

Barking from:  Auckland

What's up dog?

Orion Health is a family-oreintated business that’s all about putting people at the heart of our solutions. Rusty, the dog belongs to our Founder, but is shared amongst his wider family, so spends a lot of time with our CEO and other family members that work at Orion. When Rusty is at Orion he has plenty of desks to choose from. As Rusty is such a well mannered, not to mention cute, dog he has a lot and I mean A LOT of admirers. People from all over the office come for a pat and a chat and will often take him for a walk too. If Rusty is in the CEO’s office he’s visible to anyone walking down the hall. This often means that team members end up in the CEO’s office having a pat and a cuddle. He has really broken down barriers, as people who usually wouldn’t interact with the CEO very much are now often seen chatting with him while giving Rusty a good pat.

At Orion Health we encourage walking meetings where possible. If people know Rusty is in the office they will search him out and take him along, making for a very happy Rusty! Rusty is a bit of an old soul doggy, and as such is calm and very well behaved. On occasion though he forgets his manners. There have been times where he hasn’t had quite enough attention (in his eyes), so will give a little bark, and flash off down the hallway in search of a cuddle. Our CEO is usually horrified, but the rest of us love it. Rusty has really brought people together and made our workplace a warm, relaxing and fun place to be. We do have other dogs visit regularly as they are all welcome, but Rusty is the stand-out favourite and we think he is the perfect contender to win Top Office Dog!

2024 NZ Top Office Dog Award

Judging and criteria

This award will be judged on:

Purpose

Four-legged support can be shown in multiple ways and furry forms in the workplace, and this award celebrates a supreme dog that supports their people to do their best mahi. We are looking for a top office dog with tail wags, affectionate licks, playful walks and that special presence that boosts their owner and co-worker’s mental health while contributing to a positive work culture. They may be a work from home dog, an office dog – or a hybrid pooch! 

Reach

Is the dog dedicated to improving the life of one human, or an entire team?

Impact

How big an impact does this dog have in the workplace? Explain how much your canine friend has improved mental health at work or office culture, and give examples of how they have made an impact. 

Quirky

All dogs are special. Does your dog possess a superpower? Please note their special talent or a trick they perform on demand.