BUSINESS - Is 'Pawternity Leave' the Next Step in Benefits?

In an effort to accommodate pet owning staff members, companies in the UK are offering flexible benefits for employers who have pets.

(Cheryl Wallach Photography)

For pet-owning professionals, the movement that is being dubbed as ‘pawternity  leave’ may be linked to increased productivity and employee morale.

Gregory Buchanan of Manchester, UK-based tech support company, BitSol Systems, is one such employer who is offering employees some form of ‘pawternity leave’ – up to one week of paid leave for employees who acquire new pets.

“Obviously we take it on a case-by-case decision," said Buchanan in an interview last month. "If somebody’s asking for time off for a goldfish, no,  no — then it’s not quite what we set out for.”

ANZ Bank in New Zealand also offers this benefit on a case-by-case basis. “Anyone can request flexibility for any reason, including ‘pawternity’ leave,” ANZ spokeswoman Sonia Bell told the NZ Herald.

Canada’s own Shopper’s Drug Mart has been flagged as offering time off for pet owners in bereavement.

According to Shopper’s spokesperson, Lana Gogas, while the drugstore has no plans to change their benefits package, they are offering flexibility to their pet owning staff members:

“Shoppers Drug Mart offers flexibility to employees who are dealing with a death in the family - this includes pets. Appreciating that each instance is unique, the employee and his or her manager can establish an appropriate length of time away from the office to deal with grieving.”

While online communities are abuzz with both criticism and support of the notion of ‘pawternity leave’, one argument is that the pet industry has grown to a point where this is the next step.

According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), American pet owners are spending some $60 billion a year on their furry family members, a dramatic increase from $17 billion in 1994.

The APPA’s 2015-16 National Pet Owners Survey also reveals that 65% of U.S. households own a pet (mostly dogs and cats); that works out to 79.7 million homes.

By contrast, according to childstats.gov there are 73.7 million children aged 0-17 years living in U.S. households this year, whereas there were 68.6 million in 1994, lending some evidence to the continued population decline in North America.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

RESEARCH - Positive Impact of Pets in the Workplace

The first-of-its-kind, Banfield Pet Hospital “Pet-Friendly Workplace PAWrometer” (pets at work barometer) surveyed 1,006 employees and 200 Human Resource decision makers (HR DMs) from a mix of company sizes and industries across

the U.S. early this year.

The survey explored the prevalence, impact and perceptions of pet-friendly workplaces as it relates to employees and company culture.

Until this research, there were no comprehensive studies on the perceptions of employees and HR decision makers at both pet-friendly and non-pet-friendly workplaces on the topic of pets in the office.

Overwhelmingly, responses indicate that pet-friendly workplaces are viewed as highly positive, boosting morale, contributing to talent retention and providing employers with a competitive edge in the recruitment process.

Survey respondents even report that they believe more people would adopt pets if their companies offered pet-friendly office policies.

Responses indicate that dogs are the most common type of pet in pet-friendly

workplaces, with more than 95 percent of employees and HR decision makers saying they are allowed at work. Cats are less acceptable in pet-friendly offices, with only 46 percent of employees and 65 percent of HR decision makers saying they are allowed.

View all the results by downloading the executive summary.

BUSINESS - Companies Offering Pet Bereavement Days

(Cheryl Wallach)

Now that's pet-friendly.

Some American workplaces are giving people bereavement days to at least get over the initial shock of losing a beloved pet and start the mourning process, according to CBS Miami.

Not only is offering pet bereavement days a compassionate move but it is also an acknowledgement that on the heels of saying goodbye to a beloved animal, which is often considered part of the family, an employee might not work so well – at work.

Perhaps not a huge surprise, pet insurance company, Trupanion, gives workers one paid pet bereavement day.

But other companies are on board with similar plans too, despite an absence of federal or state laws requiring them to make the offer to employees faced with losing a pet.

Software company VM Ware and Maxwell Health gives employees flexible days off while Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants allows managers to grant up to three days away from work.

With 30% of pet owners surveyed saying they felt grief and sadness for at least six months after losing an animal, pet loss counsellor Janet Zimmerman told CBS Miami it’s critical they take some time off to start the process of letting go. “It’s really very, very difficult to function and if you can’t function, you certainly can’t function at work, and you’re really not the person you were before. You need the time to get back to some sense of normality,” she says.

It's something Trupanion understands and accommodates for its workers. “We allow people to actually do that grieving process and just, just be able to heal,” Dani Kahn with Trupanion says. “I think you need closure when you lose a pet, and it’s important to have the time to do that.”

Studies show people experience the same numbness, shock, disbelief, guilt, and anger as they would if a person died and most grieving pet owners need a few days to a week to deal with the initial shock.

It seems the concept of pet bereavement days resonates beyond the U.S.

A Canadian radio station, CJVR, posted an online poll where 75% of respondents agreed with granting pet bereavement days to employees.

Several years ago, in Australia, there was debate on whether companies should offer bereavement leave, make one day paid pet bereavement leave mandatory or give it a pass entirely.

A survey by insurance company, Direct Line, says pet owners in the U.K take 8 million days off on account of grieving the loss of a pet, that one in four claimed they were too upset to go into work and those who did said they were unproductive.

The same survey found nearly 80% felt their boss would not understand their need for a pet bereavement day and if they were to get on it would be by calling in and claiming they were simply too sick to be at work.

While many people understand the devastating loss, online chatter shows many do not believe it warrants time off work with some even scoffing a pet bereavement day is “a job perk,” which simply goes too far.

Erica Lee was given time off from work to try to cope with her death of her dog, Chief, and also some time to help her son understand the loss. And she is forever grateful.

“I was heartbroken,” she told CBS Miami. “Being able to stay home with him and grieve with (my son,) was invaluable. It was so, so important to me. This should absolutely be the norm for many businesses if not all.”

By Nadia Moharib

Nadia Moharib is an animal lover who has adopted everything from birds to hamsters, salamanders, rabbits, fish and felines. She has written about all-things-pets for years and was a long-time editor of a pet magazine in a daily newspaper which featured a Q & A column, Ask Whit, penned by her pooch (ghost written, of course.) The serial dog owner lives in Calgary, Alberta and most days can be found at a dog park picking up after her rescue pooch, Scoots.

INTERVIEW: Kathleen Burns, Research Poster Scholarship Applicant

Kathleen Burns (Katie) is a Masters of Science student in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph. She completed her undergraduate degree in Applied Human Nutrition. Katie loves animals, especially Tucker, the dog that she walks. Katie is performing research on veterinarians’ perceptions and their counseling approaches regarding dog walking.

InfoStream (IS): What prompted you to research the beliefs that veterinarians have regarding dog walking and how they discuss it with clients?

Katie Burns (KB): My advisory committee members and I have an interest in getting humans and animals active together. Dog walking is a great way to get dogs and their owners active! One way to promote dog walking is by discussions during veterinary appointments. Veterinarians can positively influence the physical activity levels of dogs and their owners through counseling and discussions on dog walking. There is a gap in the literature regarding veterinarians’ practices regarding dog-walking counseling and their perceptions of dog walking. With veterinarians’ ability to influence dog walking we were interested in understanding their current practices regarding dog-walking counseling and to understand their perceptions on dog walking. How veterinarians view dog walking influences whether or not they discuss and promote in appointments. If we can gather information about this then we could better involve them in dog-walking promotion!

IS: What are the goals of your research?

KB: The goals of our research are to understand current veterinarians’ practices of dog-walking counseling. This would help others in the future to better involve veterinarians in dog-walking interventions. Ultimately, we want to highlight the benefits of dog walking and recognize and reduce the barriers that veterinarians face when discussing dog walking with owners. This would help to improve and increase the discussions of exercise and dog walking in veterinary appointments with owners and may help to get dogs and their owners more active!

IS: Based on your data collection so far, what are the main barriers that are preventing people from walking their dogs?

KB: As perceived by veterinarians, a main barrier to dog walking is the owner’s busy schedule. Some participants described that owners are quite busy and it can be difficult to fit dog walking into their schedule. A dog’s behavioural issues, for example leash reactivity or aggression toward other dogs, were identified as barriers to dog walking as well. A dog’s behavioural issues can be difficult to address and can make owners nervous or hesitant to walk their dog. Interestingly, dog walking can help reduce problem behaviours in dogs, including aggression, so it is important that this barrier is addressed!

IS: How do you think these barriers would be best addressed/overcome?

KB: To address an owner’s busy schedule I think that veterinarians could provide dog owners with tips or handouts on how to fit dog walking into their schedule. For example, some tips could include incorporating multiple short walks into the owner’s schedule or making daily dog walking a family activity. Behavioural issues can be difficult to manage as there are many types of aggression and reasons as to why a dog may be aggressive. To address these behavioural issues, it is important that dog owners discuss their dog’s aggression issue with their veterinarian, as they can assist owners in the management of behavioural issues. By consulting with a veterinarian owners can begin to manage and reduce behavioural issues which may ease anxieties when it comes to dog walking.

IS: What do you see as the main benefits to taking your dog for a walk?

KB: There are so many benefits of dog walking for both the dog and owner! There are physical benefits as well as social and mental benefits of dog walking. First of all dog walking has many physical benefits for the dog including maintained agility, physical stimulation, improved physical activity level, weight loss and weight maintenance. It also has social and mental benefits for your dog which include socialization, enjoyment, discovering new smells and sights. Dog walking can also help reduce and prevent boredom, destructive and aggressive behaviour. There are also several benefits for the owner, which include increased levels of physical activity and a higher likelihood of meeting the daily physical activity recommendations. Dog walking also encourages dog owners to interact and develop relationships with other dogs and other people and presents an opportunity for the dog and owner to bond with one another!

IS: Once your research is complete, how do you think your discoveries will help veterinarians, dog owners, and their dogs?

KB: Our research can help to increase awareness of the benefits of dog walking and can highlight some of the barriers that veterinarians may face when talking to owners about dog walking. Veterinarians may use this information to recognize and overcome some of the barriers to discussing dog walking with owners. By recognizing and possibly overcoming some of these barriers related to dog-walking counseling, veterinarians may be able to better promote dog walking among owners in veterinary appointments. Our research also highlights the many benefits of dog walking which can be used to increase awareness of the benefits of dog walking among veterinarians. If veterinarians are aware of the benefits of dog walking they may be more likely to have these discussions with dog owners.  

Dog owners can use this information to understand that their veterinarian can provide them with information about dog walking and can help them to overcome some of the barriers to dog walking that they may face. They can also use this information to recognize the many benefits that dog walking has for themselves and their dog, including physical, mental and social benefits.  By recognizing these benefits owners may be more inclined to take their dog for a walk!

IS: Do you have plans to share your findings with veterinarians? If so, how will you accomplish this and what information would you share?

KB: Yes, I hope to publish my findings in a veterinary journal to disseminate them to veterinarians. I have also already shared my main findings with the participants in my study and I hope that they will share this with others in the veterinary profession. I want to share information about all of the benefits of dog walking as well as the role that veterinarians can play in positively influencing dog walking among owners and their dogs.

IS: Is there anything else you would like us to know?

KB: No, but thank you for the opportunity to share more of my research with you!

INTERVIEW - Dr. Ardra Cole: Innovation Showcase Scholarship Applicant

We recently had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Ardra Cole, founder of ElderDog Canada. ElderDog Canada may also be found on Facebook and Twitter. ElderDog Canada supports and maintains the relationship between senior citizens and their dogs. ElderDog also supports older dogs that have had their lives disrupted due to illness, relocation, or death of their human companion. Dr. Cole is a university professor that currently works as a Senior Administrator at a university; she has been a university faculty member for 25 years. Dr. Cole volunteered for Therapeutic Paws of Canada with her dog Tattoo (now passed on) and they regularly visited palliative care patients. Currently Dr. Cole is an Evaluator of prospective dog volunteers and their humans.

InfoStream (IS): The pet experience is clearly important to you, can you tell us how this developed?

Dr. Ardra Cole (DAC): I have lived with many dogs so I have personal experience with pets but I am also a researcher and my program of research for over a decade or so was on caregivers of seniors. Through that research I came to understand the important role that companion animals, especially dogs, play in seniors’ lives. It gave me a special and unique understanding of the role that pets play and the meaning that they have for people. One of my oldest dogs, now passed away, was a therapy dog and he and I volunteered for many years visiting long-term care facilities and he was particularly skilled at being with people at end of life. We visited palliative care most often and observing him being with people at that very critical and vulnerable stage of their lives was pretty humbling. Watching what he was able to do but also watching the responses from the people who wanted so much to just be with a dog and to feel the touch, closeness, and memories that his presence conjured; it was very deeply meaningful.

I have also been involved as an evaluator for therapy dogs so I bring a range of experiences that are all about the connection between animals and humans.

IS: What are your main goals with ElderDog Canada?

DAC: The primary goal is to support and maintain the relationship between a senior human and their companion animals who, more often than not, are also seniors. It’s all about the relationship between people and dogs; particularly seniors. Breaking that down, our goal is to help seniors keep their dogs with them at home as they live independently and to keep their (seniors and dogs) health and well-being. In doing that, helping the senior live independently longer and helping the dog remain longer in a loving and caring environment for as long as possible.

Connected with that, is valuing and honoring older dogs, those who have dedicated their lives to being companion animals to seniors (but not always) and are on in years and deserve to be valued for their long life and what they still have, how they still live, and what they can teach and contribute.

The third part is to honor and commemorate the dogs and the relationship they had after the dogs have passed away. Not to only honor them in life but also in death.

IS: Can you tell us about your education and how it has supported your work with ElderDog Canada?

DAC: I’m a teacher, my doctoral work is in applied psychology with a focus on teaching and learning and I work particularly within the context of adult education and community development. I do a lot of work with health professionals and seniors. My research program is with seniors and the role of companion animals in seniors’ lives. In addition to my focus on adult education and and psychology I’ve also done extended work on pet loss bereavement; it’s an extension of my applied psychology work. I have a particular interest in connection with the bereavement side of things for people experience the loss of a dog but more broadly in the important role of grieving and bereavement as part of a larger wellness process.

IS: What inspired your care for elderly people and their pets so deeply that you have started ElderDog Canada?

DAC: It’s a much deeper seated interest in seniors. Growing up many long years ago, I grew up in a family where my mother was a volunteer, she volunteered so much and was a strong community member. She spent a lot of time, and I tagged along with her, working in various capacities volunteering in seniors’ homes. I really grew up appreciating the important role that seniors play in our lives with a strong awareness of (I couldn’t say this back then but I can now) the ways in which as a society we don’t honor seniors as well as we should. I think those experiences really stayed with me and I have such a strong commitment to and love for being in the company of seniors. I feel that as a society we need to have a strong commitment to honor our elders in ways that we don’t currently. I also know firsthand what dogs can do for seniors and living with old dogs and old and ill dogs, it’s a very special thing to care for old and ill dogs. It’s like a parallel to caring for old and ill humans; there’s something deeply meaningful about being in the presence of and being honored to care for those who are vulnerable, whether they are humans or animals. Through that care, I’ve encountered some pretty neat questions about the meaning of life and death. Those are really deep answers but it is all part of my passion and commitment.

IS: It’s amazing to listen to you talk, I can feel your passion and respect. I know you also educate about the human-animal bond and the role animals can have for seniors. How do you use this education to support people and their dogs?

DAC: We have conversations with people, if you’re really well-informed, beyond only personal experience, then I think it enables you to have deeper and richer conversations with people and you can listen reflectively to people, their stories, what they think about their dogs. You can also extend that and help people to understand their own experiences more broadly. A lot of people tend to apologize for the depth of their attachment, they might be embarrassed by it or say “You probably think this is silly but…”, and to those stories I can say “No, not only do I not think it’s silly but…” You can respond in an informed way,  your knowledge breadth and depth allows that. So that’s on a personal level. I do a lot of speaking sessions to inform people about the role of dogs in seniors lives and also about ElderDog. I might be invited to go to a public library and I also speak with health professionals. In those situations I draw on my research and my knowledge of the literature in the area of companion animals, seniors, health benefits, and other benefits. It really helps to provide some legitimacy or validation or even just to help put ElderDog and the human-animal bond within a context that people can better understand and have a deeper level of respect for.

IS: Who do you work with most regarding education? What is your main focus?

DAC: There are typically three different purposes to providing education. One of them is to inform the general public. That would be anyone, especially when I’m speaking in a library. The goal is to raise awareness about ElderDog and it’s services and to recruit volunteers. The next one would be health professionals, caregivers, and family members. We want to make seniors and seniors’ family members aware that our supports are available to them. Getting into that system is a challenge. There’s also the recruiting of volunteers which has more of ElderDog focus. Content depends on the audience.

IS: What geographic areas does ElderDog currently support and what are your plans for growth?

DAC: We’re currently federally incorporated so we have the potential to grow across the country; that’s my dream. Our headquarters is in Nova Scotia. We have community-based chapters that are called pawds. We currently have four active pawds in Nova Scotia with a fifth starting up. My goal is to have a couple more in Nova Scotia. We have a pawd on Prince Edward Island and I’d like to expand into New Brunswick. There are two pawds in Ontario so far in Toronto and Ottawa, and one is starting in Calgary, Alberta. Those are our eight pawds so far. My goal is to have ElderDog pawds in communities in every province and in every region across the country. I think it’s quite doable because the plan for our pawds and the organizational structure is set up so that it is easily replicable across communities, regions, provinces. It’s just a matter of growing slowly across the country.

IS: How is ElderDog funded?

DAC: ElderDog currently is funded by donations and through fundraising activities at the pawd level and at the national office level. We have a number of fundraisers each year and the pawds do as well. We have an online store and we encourage donations in memory. It’s all donations and fundraising. We’ve had one federal grant to help us build capacity in our volunteer crew and that enabled us to develop material to use across the country; it was very helpful and we will continue to apply for grants and charitable status. Right now we’re lean but we just keep at it.

IS: Are finances one of the main barriers to the spread of the ElderDog program and support system?

DAC: Is it a barrier? I wouldn’t say that. We’re 100% volunteer run and I really want it to stay that way for a long time until there’s a reason for that to change. If we could afford some paid staff I think it would grow faster but that would make it a different organization and I don’t think we’re ready to make that change. Our biggest expense is veterinary costs. The more we grow, the greater the costs. Trying to keep up with those costs with our current level of funding is a worry; it’s the kind of thing that keeps me awake. For example, a dog needs dental work and where are we going to get the money for that? For pawds to grow, the dogs in those pawds are going to need help as well and their bills are could grow beyond the current capacity of the pawd. In that way finances are a barrier. I think that’s the main financial barrier, being able to handle the costs of veterinary care.

IS: Is there anything else you would like us to know?

DAC: Hmm, always such a tricky question. I guess the other challenge is something that’s important to talk about and that is ways of getting the word out there about ElderDog. There is no other organization like us. There are organizations that focus on helping seniors and some that help their animals as well but those all have fees and we’re no cost. There are organizations that help older dogs but there is no organization that focuses on the relationship between the two. I feel that this is such a special organization and I want everyone to know about it and it’s very difficult to get the word out there. I’ve never met anyone that didn’t immediately say, “Wow, that is so wonderful,” and it is! Old people and old dogs, it just doesn’t get better. I just really want people who need help to be able to get the help they need (dogs as well).