Two feline members of The St. Ignace News crew, office cats Paige and Oreo, with receptionist Debbie Sterk, were featured in an August article in the trade publication Publisher's Auxiliary, following a July visit to the St. Ignace newspaper office by columnist and advisor Ken Blum.

Mr. Blum, author of the "Black Ink" column in Publisher's Auxiliary, wrote a piece about the intangible benefits of animals in the workplace and featured a photograph of Paige relaxing in one of her favorite spots in the News office, atop Ms. Sterk's computer. Citing a study showing that pets in the office foster a more productive and creative work environment, Mr. Blum promoted local pet shelters as the ideal place for managers to recruit such feline or canine "employees."

"Generally, these candidates are more unpretentious, intelligent, and street smart than their pedigreed relatives," he wrote. Mr. Blum mentioned that a surprising number of newspaper offices he visits have welcomed pets into the workplace, noting the practice may be part of a growing trend among today's companies.

Paige and Oreo were adopted as strays by The St. Ignace News staff in 2004.

Publisher's Auxiliary is published monthly by the National Newspaper Association.