4-legged friends liven up showrooms

Some of the stores on the 2021 Best Dealerships To Work For list have gone all-in on having dogs hang out.

October 19, 2021 09:22 PM

Kona, owned by Finance Manager Kalee McKenna and Sales Adviser Zach Stankowski, visits Mall of Georgia Mini in Buford.

Some of the stores on the 2021 Best Dealerships To Work For list have gone all-in on introducing four-legged companions to the showroom or sponsoring charitable initiatives to aid animal rescue causes.

Cats and cars? Several dealerships are cool with that concept. BMW of Mobile, in Alabama, adopted a cat named Beemer. Beemer doesn't close deals, but his purring and lounging throughout the store is "instant stress relief" for customers and sales associates alike, according to Scott Davis, the dealership's center operator.

Some stores dub themselves pet-friendly. Friendship Nissan in North Carolina and Friendship Hyundai in Tennessee encourage customers to bring pets with them while they shop or get their vehicles serviced, said Dustin Walters, dealer principal of both stores.

BEST DEALERSHIPS TO WORK FOR: Over the past 10 years, U.S. dealerships saw business roar back to record heights in the aftermath of recession then faced the two-pronged challenge of a pandemic and microchip shortage-fueled inventory crisis. Through it all, dealers counted on their employees to help them get through the tough times and thrive. And for those same 10 years, Automotive News has honored the dealerships that have done right by their employees.
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From left, BMW of Mobile Sales Adviser Andrea Mantilla, holding Beemer; Sales Manager Marianne Castleberry; Sarah Clark from service administration; and Service Advisers Becky Woodyard, Carie King and Elizabeth Miller, holding Zola

Employees at Mercedes-Benz of North Scottsdale, in Arizona, can take in their dogs on specific days, said Michael Faul, general manager. Guests are also welcome to bring in their canines, who get treats and fresh water, Faul said.

Parts Representative Ken Allard’s dog Cooper at BMW of Warwick in Rhode Island

Many dealerships and their employees are heavily involved in pet rescue causes. Technicians at Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria in Arizona pulled a mother cat and its newborn kittens from the fender well of a new vehicle and surrendered them — along with donations they raised — to a local rescue.

Patriot Subaru of North Attleboro President Adam Arens and his dog Cody star in a recruitment video.

Another Patriot Subaru dog, Sif, would join the staff when she accompanied her owner, an employee who worked in the dealership’s business development center.

Several dealerships, such as Patriot Subaru of North Attleboro in Massachusetts, take part in adopt-a-pet events or support shelters and other animal organizations.

One dealership, Faulkner Subaru Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, has worked with its local Humane Society for 16 years and Speranza Animal Rescue, a no-kill rehabilitation shelter, for 10 years.