Animals’ purpose in life is not just to be the cutest little floofs on planet Earth. And as much as we wish we could just pet, love, and play with them whenever we wanted, sometimes they have jobs to do!

And no, we’re not just talking about working dogs — all kinds of animals might find themselves in unexpected situations where they have a purpose. Much like a job, but, well, without the pay. So, we’ve gathered a bunch of funny images showing our faithful, sweet furry friends doing all kinds of jobs. Just working on a regular Monday! So, here they are.

#1 Smoll Helper!

#2 Classic Working Colombian Cat

#3 Tofu, Employee Of The Month

While many of these are accidental moments when pets proved themselves helpful in certain situations, animals have long done jobs for humans. And, well, it’s not by chance that dogs are considered man’s best friend. According to historians, dogs were the first animals to ever work alongside humans.

They were domesticated from ancient wolves during the Upper Paleolithic era, possibly as far back as 30,000 years ago. At the time, hunter-gatherers used dogs to track prey, guard encampments, and even carry light loads. Evidence of this has been found at early human settlements in Europe and Asia, showing that domesticated dogs were much more than pets even then.

#4 “Sure I Can Empty Your Trash Bin. It’s Actually Quite Simple. You Just Come Over Here And Right-Click On The—oh, That Was A Joke? Haha! You Got Me, Jerry. Good One.”

#5 Meet Mayor Max II, He Is Current Mayor Of Idyllwyld, CA. He's A Very Gud Boi

#6 It's A Good Dog

#7 My Rabbit Answering Mails

Later, oxen and cattle entered the picture, but only around 10,000 BCE. At first, they were usually raised strictly as a food source, but during the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution, humans realized that instead of only using them for food, they could benefit from keeping them alive for labor, wool, and milk.

Cattle, and oxen in particular, later became the animals of choice for carrying heavy loads. Specialists say that in Central Europe, people began using oxen to till heavy soil after inventing the wooden yoke and plow. Apparently, a single pair of oxen could plow a field 20 times faster than humans. No wonder they’re the Oregon Trail’s first beast of burden.

#8 Introducing The New Barketing Manager…

#9 Jam Entrepreneur. Respect His Grind

#10 Chief Cat Designer

#11 Hawks That Help Scare Away Birds At The Airport

But of course, we can’t forget the internet’s favorite furry friends: cats. We all know that in ancient Egypt, cats served quite a purpose. They were temple guardians, beloved by all, which, as we all know, is very relatable. But actually, research suggests that cats’ first gig started long before that.

Around 10,000 years ago, as humans transitioned from hunting to farming, settlements became riddled with mice and rats, which stored food lured into granaries. Humans soon realized that African wildcats followed these pests into their settlements, helping protect their food supplies. Eventually, this encouraged the wildcats to live alongside humans, paving the way for the domesticated cats we know today.

#12 Bodega Cat Hard At Work

#13 There Was A Coonstruction Zone On My Road This Morning. Little Guy Pulled A Night Shift To Get It Done

#14 Optometrist Assistant Cat

#15 I Vote Him For Employee Of The Month

#16 Such A Heartwarming Picture

#17 Ticket Inspector

Nowadays, though, many kinds of animals have a ginormous amount of responsibilities. More often than not, dogs are still the animals most commonly used for work. They’re used as medical alert dogs for allergies, as well as for cancer and disease detection, and, of course, as police dogs that work hard to find people and detect weapons.

But that’s hardly all. Horses and miniature horses often serve as therapy animals in courtrooms and hospitals, comforting survivors and first responders. Goats and sheep clear dense, invasive weeds, while ferrets carry cords from one side of an underground tube to the other. Smart little creatures, they are.

#18 Inspector Birb

#19 Nice Employee

#20 Met This Pied Crow At The Ren Faire Taking Donations For A Bird Rescue

#21 Reptilian Security Gaurd

In so many places, even hawks are being used for pest control and to keep other birds away from restaurants and similar establishments. Animals truly are an absolute gift from the universe, not only helping us navigate life more easily, but also allowing us to enjoy their presence in our lives.

So next time you see someone with an unusual pet or a dog wearing a special vest, remember they may just be a good boy or good girl hard at work. Or, in some of these cases, hardly working. But hey, who doesn’t have some of those days?