October 14, 2021
It is an experiment, to say the least original, which was launched at the beginning of the summer at the town hall of Grenoble.
It is not every day that we have the opportunity to enter the office of an elected official, even less that of an elected official accompanied by his dog. A few days a week, Maxence Alloto, deputy mayor of Grenoble in charge of the local economy, commerce, crafts and local vitality, comes to the town hall accompanied by Pixel, a beautiful two-and-a-half-year-old Labrador. .
Last June, an experiment was launched, so that those who wish, can come and work with their dog. They are five in total to take their pets to the town hall. Something that already exists, especially in the private sector, but which is very rare in communities.
Obviously, certain rules must be respected: “A course has been set up, with signs. Only the first floor is concerned, for the moment ”, explains the elected official.
It is Sandra Krief, municipal councilor in charge of animal health, who initiated this project. “It’s been around for years. But here, while discussing with elected officials and officials, I saw that there was a real desire. I studied this for almost 10 months. Then, internal regulations were drawn up. It is very supervised, the person commits by signing a contract. There has been real work, especially with the canine and feline behaviorist from the City of Grenoble, ”she explains.
“I did not imagine the extent that this was going to take”
Despite his very busy schedule, Maxence Alloto does not hide his joy to have Pixel, from time to time, with him at the office:
In a period still very disturbed by the health crisis, during which teleworking is still “in fashion”, the presence of the dog allows the elected Grenoble to “telework, but from the town hall”:
A few months after the start of this experiment, it is time for a first assessment. A stopover is also planned for the month of October. But on the side of the town hall of Grenoble, the first feedback is already very positive: “It goes beyond my expectations. I did not imagine the magnitude it was going to take. The people are very happy, distressed, and smile. This makes it possible to create a link, a contact. There is no problem with noise, dirt, allergy. The subject arouses a lot of emotion, desires. This will open doors ”, hopes Sandra Krief, who confides that other town halls have expressed their interest in this experiment.
By Baptiste Berthelin
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