Can You Take Time Off When Your Pet Dies?
If your dog passes away, can you take bereavement leave from work? For most employees, the answer is no. The grief of losing a pet is not legally recognized as a valid reason to take time off. You can only use your own vacation days or sick leave to handle arrangements, or push through your sadness at your desk.
But things are changing. During the 2025–2026 legislative cycle, multiple US states have introduced bills addressing pet-related leave. In Spain, a legislative proposal is moving forward that would grant paid pet bereavement leave. Around the world, pet bereavement leave is shifting from “impossible” to “under discussion.”
The United States: From Zero to One
No US state currently requires private employers to provide pet bereavement or illness leave. But legislators are starting to act.
In Missouri, House Bill 3207 would require employers to provide bereavement leave after an employee‘s pet dies, including a limited paid component. In Illinois, Senate Bill 1670 would amend the Family Bereavement Leave Act to include “covered companion animals,” providing up to one week of unpaid leave for pet loss. New York lawmakers have proposed a different approach. Assembly Bill A.791 would allow employees to use accrued paid sick leave to care for a companion or service animal, integrating pet-related needs into existing sick leave structures.
Although none of these bills have been enacted, they mark the shift of pet bereavement leave from a fringe issue into the legislative agenda.
Spain: Paid Pet Bereavement Leave on the Horizon
In Europe, Spain is leading the way. In early 2026, CoPPA submitted a legislative proposal to Spain‘s Ministry of Labor. The proposal would amend several key laws to recognize paid bereavement leave when an employee’s pet dies or becomes seriously ill.
Nearly nine million Spanish homes have pets fully integrated into daily life and emotional wellbeing. Yet labor law currently ignores this reality. If your pet is sick or dying, you must use personal days or pretend everything is fine at work.
María González Lacabez, a lawyer and legal advisor for CoPPA, explains that “we can undoubtedly speak of a grieving process for the loss of an animal, similar to that which occurs with the loss of family members or friends.” Psychiatrist Elsa Alonso adds: “The death of a beloved pet can have a serious negative impact on mental health and work performance. Anxiety, insomnia, changes in appetite, and difficulty concentrating are all well-documented reactions.”
Experts agree that the lack of official recognition for pet bereavement may actually result in more absences from work in the long run. Suppressed grief takes longer to heal.
CoPPA makes a key point: responsible pet ownership is already a legal obligation in Spain. If you are legally required to care for your animal, you should be able to do so without risking your job or burning through holiday days.
Other Countries: A Global Trend
Spain is not alone. Chile and Colombia currently have similar proposals under consideration. No country has yet passed a law, but pet bereavement leave has moved from impossible to actively discussed around the world.
Experts predict that within the next five to ten years, pet bereavement leave will shift from an extra benefit offered by some companies to an increasingly common legal protection.
If your beloved companion deserves a unique and eternal memorial, please visit our 【Product Page】（https://petheadstone1.com/products） or create a custom pet memorial stone for your pet through our 【Customization Service】（https://petheadstone1.com/custom）.
Pet gravestone#Pet memorial stone#Pet headstone#Pet marker#Pet grave marker#Pet memorial plaque