Pet owners want bosses to give them time off to grieve after the death of a cat or dog – with most saying it’s as bad as losing a loved one.
Such a loss could even leave some owners with mental health issues, says pets website Wamiz.
Its survey for National Grief Awareness Week, which begins tomorrow, found almost half who had lost a pet still find it difficult to talk about.
And they admitted that discussing their grief with people who do not have pets was much harder.
More than 80 per cent say they still keep the ashes of at least one faithful companion at home, while a similar number hang on to a keepsake such as a favourite toy or a lock of fur.
Nearly two thirds of owners had buried their pet’s remains in the garden to keep them close.
Emilie Heyl, of Wamiz, said: “Brits clearly bring their dogs and cats into the family fold and have as deep an attachment as to other members of the family or friends.
"At a time when mental health campaigners are urging us to talk through our emotions, or listen to others who are suffering, it’s vital that grieving pet owners can express their feelings at work and elsewhere.”
In the firm’s survey, 89 per cent said losing a pet was as difficult to handle as the loss of a family member or friend.
Currently there is no legal requirement for employers to allow staff time off when their pet dies – or for any other bereavement. Instead it is down to an employer’s discretion.
Ms Heyl added: “Other studies have shown 62 per cent of owners say having a pet makes them feel happier.
"And that 68 per cent of older people feel better both mentally and physically when they live with a dog or cat.
“If the companions that support happiness and wellbeing are suddenly no longer around, the negative impacts of loss could be significant.”
Half of owners get another dog or cat within six months of a pet’s passing – and four in ten share their grief by writing a tribute to their pet in a blog or on social media.
