[crissrn27]

I have worked shifts for people that needed time off after the death of their animals and would again. I wouldn't call in sick b/c I have great parents that would come and sit with my animals if I needed them too, I don't even call in for sick child, my mom keeps them for me and I feel perfectly safe leaving them with her if they are sick. I know I am very lucky! If one of my puppies died I don't know what I would do, probably try to get someone to cover for me.

[myrlpie]

Years ago, I took a day off to take my Yorkie for an ultrasound. I found my own coverage. When I had her put to sleep, they gave a night off (without pay), they gave me flowers and got me another dog for my birthday, two months later.

[Lotte]

Where I work if you call in sick it comes out of your paid time off - so yes, if I had to, I'd do it (but fortunately my pets have always died at convenient times). Of course, if you call in sick for pets, this detracts from actual vacation time...

[Fuzzy]

I know people who have called in "sick" or taken a vacation day because their pet was in intensive care at our hospital because of sickness or injury. Pets are very important in many people's lives especially those who are single and live alone. Many people go through the same emotional grief cycle when they have a sick pet or when a pet dies as they would any household member. I feel that time off should be allowed for those people who need the extra time for grieving or to care for an ill pet. Whether the time off is paid or not should be up to the company.

Fuzzy

[TigerGalLE]

I agree with you Fuzzy. I remember when my dog of 14 years died. She was old, but we woke up one morning and she was just dead... cold.... It was very traumatic. And i still cry sometimes thinking about her today. To many people pets are part of the family. So I don't see any problem with saying you've had a "death in the family." As long as you say which family member of course. I would cover for someone in this situation, just as I hope someone would cover for me.

[NREMT-P/RN]

YES.

A strange thing can happen when you get to your 30's and are not blessed with babies...

My beautiful girls (white shepherds) both died in my arms. They were sisters and one died in 2000 (already off work for illness). The other had been unwell, but still had a great quality of life. My husband called me at work and noted that he thought she was "fading". I handed off my patients, left work (and yes they knew why!) and went to be with my "baby" - she died in my arms a couple of hours after I got home. If I had waited, she would have died and I'd have missed being with her. I took off 2 additional days! But, everyone understood and it was my PTO.

Now I have "cat children" and I have rearranged my schedule to allow me or my husband to be with them if they are ill. But, I would call out without hesitation if I needed to be with them

[Soup Turtle]

If you feel guilty, check with your vet about day hospitalization (or night). We have clients who drop their pets off when they go to work and pick them up when they get off. Even an overnight clinic may be able to keep your pet for observation if your vet faxes over a chart so they know what's going on.

I think it's perfectly fine to call in, though.

[Cattitude]

Absolutely. I called out of nursing school clinicals! Almost 13 years ago and it was my first year of school. My dear doggie wa dx'd with CA and he got bad enough that another day could not go by with us letting him suffer. So we took him in to be euthanized.

When I called in to the clinical instructor she had the nerve to tell me "you know you can't make this up" Pffftttt.

Now I have kitties and I most certainly would call in if they needed me.

[jojotoo]

I am absolutely amazed at all the supportive replies. While I am in 100% agreement, and I would call in sick for MY fur babies, I would say that I was sick - not them. Many of my coworkers would not be understanding.

[Heloisea3]

I would never hesitate to call in if either of my dogs were ill. My husband and I are very attached to our pets and consider them a part of our family. When my sweet chihuahua developed kidney failure and had to be put to sleep, my husband took off two and a half days. Both of us were heart broken. We loved her immensely. I would hope that people would be understanding of a person's need to be with their pet if they are ill. However, I would be with my pets no matter who did/didn't approve of me taking off work. I would probably just take a personal day without going into details about why I needed it, though.