Tom Bowen’s dog Lola is as much a fixture in his office as he is.
The Mathews County Commonwealth’s Attorney is just one of a growing number of local residents that have discovered the benefits of having their four-legged friends accompany them to work.
Bowen said his eight-year-old labradoodle has been going to work with him every day since she was a puppy. Bowen was in private practice in Gloucester when he received Lola as a gift from his daughter, Kathryn, and he didn’t want to leave the tiny pup at home alone during the day.
When he was elected to office in Mathews in 2011, Bowen planned on leaving Lola at home, but staff members Jody Hudson and Sharon South asked him to bring her to the office in Liberty Square, and with permission from then-county administrator Steve Whiteway, he did exactly that. Now, she has her name on the wall like everyone else, except that hers is on a dog biscuit.
Bowen said that Lola has a calming effect on everyone in the office, espec...