Posts by Billy Byrne

Paw-sitive Vibes – The Increasing Trend of Pet-Friendly Workplaces

Billy Byrne, Marc Feldman on February 23, 2022

Simon the cat was seen wandering the dockyards of Hong Kong in March 1948 by Royal Navy Ordinary Seaman, George Hickenbottom. Undernourished and generally unwell, Hickenbottom smuggled the cat onto his ship, the HMS Amethyst. Simon soon ingratiated himself with the crew and officers, particularly because he was incredibly friendly and well adept at catching and killing vermin on the lower deck. Simon was critically wounded during the Amethyst Incident, when a Chinese field gun battery opened fire on the frigate. Luckily, the ship escaped the Yangtze and Simon became an instant celebrity as he was heralded by the British and world press. Sadly, after serving on the ship for more than a year and a half, Simon passed as a direct result of his wounds. Posthumously, Simon was awarded several accolades for his service, including the Amethyst Ribbon, People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Dickin Medal (the highest British honor awarded for animal displays of bravery in battle), Blue Cross Medal (which celebrates all pet heroes), and Naval General Service Medal. It was noted that Simon did “great things to raise the morale of his fellow sailors.” Simon’s story is an early example of the positive effect that a pet can have at the workplace.