Perhaps this is more of the norm in the Bay Area (I assume that's where you're from, from your other comment), but I've never seen anything as open as that (dogs at least). I don't think anyone would claim that a "bring your dog to work and let it roam around freely" sort of environment would be productive. I'm surprised they would allow that at all, seems like it could cause other problems as well.

I still don't think that sort of generalization is fair, though. I think a normal, sane office could be open, but without the ongoings that seem to be present in the environments you and the parent witnessed. Well, I can definitely vouch for that being the case in the office I work in.