Each day Fred Krause heads to the office, he’s joined by a friendly co-worker who usually spends his time lying near the cash register.

Krause, owner of Structures and Trains by Fred in Batavia, is one of a handful of area business owners who bring a pet to work. Bowie, a petite Shetland sheepdog (named after musician David Bowie because he has one blue eye and one brown eye), regularly accompanies Krause to work and has become well-known to his customers.

“He’s actually a very good partner,” he said.