Two staff members are making a big hit at Bomhoff Law Firm, 13343 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville—where they greet guests and clients, cheer them, amuse them, and occasionally lick their hands!
Kash and Glory are a pair of senior black labrador retrievers owned by attorney Phil Bomhoff, who come to work with their owner daily and form a vital part of the reception team at his office.
“Our clients love Kash and Glory, who often run out of the back offices to greet them,” said Kristie Sears, paralegal at Bomhoff Law Firm. “They are so friendly, and would gladly walk out the door with anyone—especially, in Kash’s case, if they were offered treats. He is a big boy who loves his treats!”
Aside from being beloved office pets, Kash and Glory represent a legacy of love at Bomhoff Law Firm.
“Kash and Glory were once the pets of a long-time client—an older lady who got to know everyone at our office,” Sears explained. “Mr. Bomhoff and my husband would do handyman work at her home, and they got to know Kash and Glory.”
Sears said that staff members at Bomhoff Law Firm became like family members to this beloved client, soon also growing attached to her two precious and beloved canines. So attached, in fact, that the client bequeathed her pets to her friends at Bomhoff.
“This lady always said that if anything happened to her,” Sears continued. “She would want us to take her dogs.”
The dogs found their new home a year ago, where they became an immediate favorite among clients and staff alike. They run and rule the roost at Bomhoff, and even appear in the law firm’s printed advertisements.
“The clients love them,” said Sears, adding, “Clients who come in here might be sad or nervous–some never have had to visit a lawyer before. They have never been in probate before, and are sad and uncertain.”
This changes instantaneously, however, the moment that they come into contact with the dual rays of sunshine that come bounding from the back offices to make them feel every way at home. “Kash and Glory cheer them up and make them smile,” said Sears. “Making them feel better immediately.”
Sears and Bomhoff share feeding and walking duties on behalf of their four-legged co-workers. Sears brings a great deal of experience to this position, as she keeps cats at home. “They are very well-behaved,” said Sears. “And they love laying out back in the sun. They are pets who are comfortable both inside and outside the office.”
Due to their size, Sears always ensures that clients are seated and prepared before the 100-pound Kash and 50-pound Glory are released into the outer office. “But they’re very friendly,” she said. “We just want to make sure that everyone who visits the office is comfortable meeting them—and prepared.”
Sears would encourage local businesses to add more four-legged staff members to their own office staff. “It’s great!” she said. “Pets make the office more open and comfortable.”