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Pet Bereavement Leave: Insurers in New Zealand and Australia Add It, and Where US States Stand

News · 2026-11-04 · 4 min read

On October 1, 2026, PD Insurance started giving its roughly 200 employees in New Zealand and Australia two extra paid days off when their dog or cat dies.

The same month, RSPCA Pet Insurance in Australia announced a two-day policy of its own, which it calls a discretionary benefit. Neither company is American, but both raise a question many US pet owners face at some point: can I take time off work when my pet dies? Here is what happened, where US law stands this fall, and how to ask for the time you need.

In short: no US state requires pet bereavement leave yet, but some employers offer it, and many will work with you if you ask clearly.
Two coworkers standing at a wooden table with a laptop, a coffee cup, and a notepad
A short, direct conversation with a manager is often all it takes. (Stock photo)

What the two insurers announced

PD Insurance's two days come on top of the bereavement leave New Zealand law already gives for close relatives, B2B News reported on October 25. The idea came from the company's head of operations, Sheryl Atkins, after her dog Harry died of leukemia. In the company's own 2024 survey of pet owners, 82.3% said they supported employers offering pet leave, according to 1News.

RSPCA Pet Insurance's policy covers a dog or cat that the employee owns or that lives with them at their main home, Pet Industry News reported on October 9. Fish, birds, reptiles, and other animals are not included.

Management professor Jarrod Haar of Massey University told 1News that the benefit may seem like "a bit of a gimmick", yet it builds trust and costs employers very little, since most people need it only rarely.

Where US law stands

In the United States, no state requires private employers to give pet bereavement leave, according to an April 2026 review by the law firm Squire Patton Boggs. A few states have tried:

  • Missouri, HB 3207. Introduced February 4, 2026, by Rep. Tonya Rush. Under the bill text, employers with 10 or more workers would have had to give at least three days of leave after a pet's death, with at least one day paid. The days could be split up within 30 days of the death. It was sent to committee on May 15 and did not move further before the session ended.
  • Illinois, SB 1670. Would add companion animals to the state's Family Bereavement Leave Act, with the leave unpaid. As of the April review, it had not passed.
  • New York, A.791. A different idea: it would let workers use paid sick leave to care for an ill pet. It sits in the Assembly Labor Committee.

Federal law doesn't fill the gap. The New York State Bar Association notes that workers cannot use the Family and Medical Leave Act for pet care or pet loss.

A golden retriever sleeping on a bed while a woman works on a laptop behind it
For many people, the workday was built around a pet. (Stock photo)

What this means for you

For now, time off after a pet dies depends on your employer, not the law. That can feel unfair when the loss is this big. The upside is that you don't have to wait for a new law. Some employers already offer pet bereavement days, and many managers will say yes to a clear, simple request.

What you can do now

  • Check your handbook first. Search for "bereavement," "pet," and "personal day." Your employer may already offer something you haven't heard about.
  • Use the time you already have. A paid day off, a personal day, or unpaid time are all fair to ask for. You don't need to explain more than you want to.
  • Keep the request short. For example: "My dog died last night. I'd like to take today and tomorrow off. I'll check in on Thursday." Most managers respond better to a plan than to an apology.
  • Ask for flexibility, not just days off. A day working from home, a later start, or a lighter week can help when the house feels empty.
  • If your employer has no policy, say so kindly. HR teams often learn what people need from requests like yours.
A woman writing in a notebook on a bed while a black and white dog lies nearby
Writing down what you want to ask for can make the conversation easier. (Stock photo)

Grief doesn't keep office hours. If a hard moment hits after work or in the middle of the night, our guide to free pet loss support lists hotlines and online groups. Some people also find it helps to spend part of a day off writing down a few favorite stories, and you can keep them on a free memorial page when you're ready.

Sources

If this helped, you can pass it on to someone who is grieving.

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If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US, any time.