Anyone who's owned a pet can testify as to the benefits of doing so. Research demonstrates that including a dog or cat in the home can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even boost heart health. Pets really do become part of the family! But like the loss of a human member of the family, our grief at losing a beloved pet can be devasting. So why is it that while employers offer workers paid compassionate leave in the wake of a loved one's passing, bereft pet owners are rarely, if at all, allowed time off to mourn? It's a question that divides experts, but what do you think?
Click through and discover the advantages of owning a pet, and the arguments as to why you should be allowed time off in the event of their passing.