SOUTHINGTON 9/23/04 - Miles took his first limousine ride Thursday, but it wasn't his wedding day or even the prom. Miles, a 10-year-old sheltie, was one of nearly 20 dogs treated to a day of pampering at Yarde Metals, where his owner, Ginny Fitzgerald, works. He had a blast, Fitzgerald. said. In a canine-friendly turn of events Thursday, Yarde Metals, a company known for appreciating its employees, offered hot dogs to workers and gourmet treats, toys, a shampoo, nail clipping and a limo ride to their four-footed friends.

I like to have some fun a couple times a year, said Craig Yarde, company president. The company, formerly based in Bristol, holds a napping- related event in the spring, he said, and started Dog Day Afternoon this year. Sometimes you have to create fun, said Yarde. Today, everyone's so serious about work, work, work. At first, there was resistance among the staff to Dog Day Afternoon because people were worried that the dogs wouldn't be controlled, Yarde said. There was concern that someone could get bitten, or that dogs would fight, he said, and about the company's liability if that happened.

Yarde said he postponed the event for a couple of weeks and called in a dog-care professional to help. Last week, Penny Murano, owner of Paw Play dog day-care in Southington, came to Yarde Metals to talk with dog owners about the event and establish some ground rules. When they originally called me, things were a little out of control, Murano said. But she said the day went surprisingly well, with well-behaved dogs and owners following the rules.

Diana Regan, a technician at Connecticut Veterinary Center, a 24-hour trauma and critical care clinic in West Hartford, said her office was on hand at the event to answer questions, promote the hospital and assist in case there were any problems. Everything was so well-organized, I think we had as much fun as the dogs and their owners Regan said.

Dog-loving employees said they enjoyed the event. I think it's great, said Linda Dufini, who works in the company warehouse office. The dogs had a great time today. Dufini spent part of the day puppy-sitting her two granddogs, Hunter and Chyna, 12-week-old South African boerboels. The pups belong to her son, Mike Dufini, who works in the Yarde Metals warehouse in Bristol. He joined his mother at the company's Southington headquarters for the lunchtime event.

It's fun, he said. It's great for the dogs.

Yarde said employee response to the idea was good. Within two days of posting the plan within the company, Yarde said, all available spots were taken. I think it's awesome, Fitzgerald said. Surprisingly, all the dogs have gotten along really well. Murano said she'd never seen any company hold anything like what Yarde Metals did. It think it's phenomenal, Murano said. If anybody was going to think of it, it's Craig. He has a brain that doesn't quit. Dogs who took part got a shampoo, their nails clipped and treats and toys to take home.

Employees who brought their dogs in for the day were allowed to go back and forth from work to home as needed, Yarde said, and were paid for it. There was a canine café, with special dog treats from Three Dog Bakery in West Hartford, Pawtraits with company mascot Yarde the Dog, and contests for best costume and for the dog and owner who looked most alike. Dogs could even play a bobbing-for-hot dogs game.

Truck driver Tom Lombardi, who spent Thursday inside the Yarde the Dog costume, said he was loving it. It's very hot, he panted. How could I not have fun with all my friends here? Several Yarde employees said they occasionally bring their dogs to work. Fitzgerald said she's brought Miles to work with her for years. She'd bring him all the time, she said, if there wasn't someone at home with him during the day.

Steve Young, a production planner, brings Copper, his 5-year-old golden retriever, to work with him for a half a day about once a month, he said. Sometimes Copper stays in the outdoor kennel on the company grounds, said Young, but other times the dog stays at Young's desk. He's free to run around the office, Young said. He added there is usually one dog in the office every day. Young liked the idea of Dog Day Afternoon and credit- ed Yarde with coming up with another unique idea to bring people together. Ordinarily, said Young, people go their own ways at lunch. This way, they're all staying together, said Young.

Third-shift truck driver Paul Cousino said he came back to Yarde Metals so his two Jack Russell terriers could enjoy Dog Day Afternoon. It looked like it was fun, Cousino said.

Tony Pesce, owner of Celebrity Limousine, initially wasn't expecting to really drive the dogs around Thursday. He said the only time he'd had a dog in his car before was when an actor brought his pooch - and in that case the animal was caged, on the floor. But Pesce said Yarde, a friend and customer, convinced him to do it. We'll take 'em for a little ride, Pesce said. They all seem pretty well behaved. The ones that are hyper, I don't know. Miles -- the only dog who took a ride in Pesce's limo - had no comment.