Today we celebrate tech with April 4, 2025, marking Microsoft’s 50th anniversary—a milestone that celebrates not just tech innovation but also the company’s quieter contributions to the world, like its love for animals. While Microsoft is synonymous with software and Bill Gates with billion-dollar philanthropy, there’s a lesser-known story that ties them together: dogs. From employee-driven calendar fundraisers to Gates’ personal pups and groundbreaking malaria research, this article dives into how Microsoft and its iconic founder have championed canine companions in unexpected ways. Let’s explore this delightful blend of tech, charity, and tail-wagging goodness.
What makes this story special is how it humanizes a tech giant and its legendary co-founder. Microsoft’s employees have turned their pet obsession into a force for good, while Gates has woven his affection for dogs into both his personal life and his global health mission. So, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s celebrate five decades of Microsoft with a bark and a smile.
The Cats and Dogs of Microsoft Calendars: A Pawsome Tradition
Back in 1988, a group of Microsoft employees in Redmond, Washington, decided to mix their love for pets with a knack for fundraising. The result? The Cats of Microsoft and Dogs of Microsoft calendars—glossy, adorable timetables featuring employee pets that have since become a quirky company tradition. What started as a fun side project has raised over $1 million for animal welfare charities by 2014, with proceeds still flowing as of today, April 4, 2025. Initially, the project focused on employee cats in diffrent poses. The trend so successful grew into a movement with the intitiative of a fundraising calendar.
The Animal Calendar: Charity Gold
The process is as grassroots as it gets: employees submit photos of their cats and dogs, a committee picks the cutest contenders, and the calendars are sold to staff and the public. Beneficiaries like the Humane Society for Seattle/King County have seen steady support, with funds often exceeding $100,000 annually in recent years. It’s a testament to how Microsoft’s culture—beyond coding and cloud computing—embraces creativity and compassion, making it a win for both pets and people.
The primary beneficiary is the Forget Me Not Animal Shelter in Republic. Thanks to the calendar sales, along with Microsoft’s employee giving program and volunteer contributions, the shelter was able to build a full-service facility and transform animal care in Ferry County. Over the years, Microsoft’s employee giving efforts have raised more than half a million dollars for Forget Me Not.
How Microsoft Employees Turned Pet Pics into Charity Gold.
The calendar initiative isn’t just about cute faces; it’s a labor of love that reflects Microsoft’s community spirit. Take 2014, for example, when the Dogs of Microsoft calendar raised $112,000 alone—enough to fund animal adoptions, medical care, and shelter upgrades. Employees like Doug Deitterick, a program manager who once chaired the effort, have noted how the project unites the company, with everyone from engineers to execs pitching in pet pics or buying stacks of calendars.
By 2025, this tradition has only grown, with digital versions now complementing the print editions, ensuring broader reach. The funds have supported everything from spay/neuter programs to disaster relief for animals, proving that Microsoft’s workforce—50 years strong—knows how to turn a playful idea into serious impact. It’s a small but mighty way the company has marked its anniversary with a legacy of giving back.
Bill Gates’ A Dog Lover
Bill Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder, isn’t just a tech titan—he’s a dog dad, too. In his personal life, Gates has shared his Medina, Washington, home with two beloved pups: Oreo and Nilla. Oreo, a spirited mixed breed, and Nilla, a fluffy companion (exact breeds aren’t widely documented, keeping their charm a bit mysterious), have been part of the Gates family for years, often spotted lounging around the sprawling Xanadu 2.0 estate.
Living in Medina since the 1990s, the Gates household has been a dog-friendly zone, with Oreo and Nilla reportedly joining Bill and Melinda (pre-2021 divorce) on walks around Lake Washington. While their exact ages or adoption stories remain private, their presence underscores Gates’ lifelong affection for dogs—a love that spills over into his philanthropy, as we’ll see next.
Gates Foundation’s Canine Heroes: Dogs Detecting Malaria
Fast forward to October 30, 2005, when the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a $258.3 million commitment to malaria research in Seattle. The innovative project included training dogs to sniff out malaria. By 2018, the foundation-backed studies showed that dogs could detect the disease in humans by smelling socks worn by infected individuals, with an accuracy rate topping 70% in early trials.
This idea, spearheaded by researchers like those at Durham University and supported by Gates’ funding, taps into dogs’ incredible olfactory skills. In places like sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria kills thousands annually, these canine detectors could revolutionize diagnostics—faster and cheaper than lab tests. It’s a brilliant fusion of Gates’ dog love and his mission to save lives, proving that his pets inspire more than just cuddles.
From Sniffs to Solutions: How Dogs Fight Malaria Today
By April 2025, the malaria-sniffing dog project has evolved. Trials in The Gambia and beyond have refined the approach, with breeds like Labradors and Spaniels trained to identify malaria’s distinct scent markers. The Gates Foundation’s initial $258.3 million in 2005 laid the groundwork, and subsequent investments—totalling over $765 million by 2018—have kept the momentum going, including this canine innovation.
Imagine this: a dog at a rural clinic, tail wagging, sniffing a sock and alerting health workers to a malaria case in seconds. It’s not fully scaled yet—logistics and training costs are hurdles—but the potential is staggering. On Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, it’s a fitting nod to how Gates’ legacy, rooted in Redmond, now reaches across continents with a bark and a mission.
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Andrew Alpin from India is the Brand Manager of Doggo digest. Andrew is an experienced content specialist and social media manager with a passion for writing. His forte includes health and wellness, Travel, Animals, and Nature. A nature nomad, Andrew is obsessed with mountains and loves high-altitude trekking. He has been on several Himalayan treks in India including the Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
