Compassionate Leave for Pet Bereavement

Some might scoff at the idea of compassionate leave for pet bereavement, but is it something we should consider?

The Proliferation of Pets

According to a Global GfK survey, over half of the world’s population has at least one type of pet. Not only is pet popularity on the rise, but also sentiment. In 2017, for example, pet owners spent over $110 billion globally on pet care.

So prevalent are pets, that more and more companies (Rezoomo included) have adopted dog-friendly policies. In fact, Dublin based company ‘Airsorted’ recently introduced a ‘Pawternity Package’ which allows staff to work from home, whilst helping new pets to settle in.

But with pets playing a more prominent role in our daily lives, what happens when tragedy strikes and they pass away?

Do we Grieve for Pets in a similar way to Humans?

According to Julie Axelrod, bereaved pet owners mourn several losses at the same time. The loss of:

unconditional love
a life witness (to all their highs and lows)
multiple routines (walks, feeding times etc)
a protégé (someone they are wholly responsible for)
and companion.

Whilst we tend to receive sympathy when mourning a loved one, the same is not always true of bereaved pet owners. Some people struggle to understand the depth of their loss and offer ill-timed suggestions, like ‘Why don’t you just get a new one’. Such comments, however well intended, can compound feelings of loss; with feelings of isolation and loneliness.