4 out of 10 British owners are in favor of work leave to take care of their sick dogs

Nearly 7 out of 10 British pet parents want to enjoy the same rights as employees with children do when it comes to taking time off to care for and mourn the loss of their dogs.

Welsh pet food manufacturer Burns Pet Nutrition asked 2,041 dog owners and found out that a majority (56%) felt they should not have to use their holiday or leave days to take their dogs to the vet. 

Welsh respondents are more supportive of taking time off to take care of a sick pet (46%), while pet parents in Northern Ireland were the least inclined of all (33%). 

The survey, which took place in February, concluded that 54% of respondents were in favor of compassionate leave being extended to allow them enough time off to mourn the loss of their dogs if the worst were to happen. 

Scottish pet parents were the keenest to this option, with 66% of respondents supporting it. 

Flexibility at work

Additionally, 1 in 10 British dog owners wish to have the flexibility to arrive late to work or leave early to schedule drop-offs and pick-ups of their pets from doggy daycare. 

Respondents from Northern Ireland (17%) were the most inclined to be able to slightly alter their work schedules around doggy daycare, while Brits in the South East were the least (5%).

Demographic breakdown

Millennial and Gen Z dog owners displayed the fiercest support for pet-related leave, according to the data.

20% of British pet owners between 18 and 24 years of age were in favor of receiving ‘pet-ernity’ leave, followed by those aged 25 to 34 (14%) and owners aged 35 to 44 (17%).

Women also displayed a higher inclination than men, with almost half (45%) of female respondents wanting the same rights as their childbearing co-workers compared to 34% of their male counterparts.