Paws for thought
17-150×150.jpg” alt=”" width=”100″ height=”100″ />One in five pet owners are willing to sacrifice up to three weeks’ holiday allowance to settle a new pet into the family home, according to a survey carried out by pet insurers Petplan.
Dubbed ‘pup-ternity’ leave, this latest trend is sweeping across the UK, with 25 per cent of new pet owners in London believing it takes up to a month for a pooch to know its place. And it would appear Londoners are complete softies compared with Scots, who only take a week off work for a new pet.
Most agreed a pup needs more attention than a kitten, with new dog-owners taking an average of six days off work, compared to new cat owners who take half that.
For those of you shaking your heads in disbelief (which I confess I was), there’s more. Although rare, the survey points to a growing trend in employers offering paid leave for owners to undertake pet duties (5 per cent).
Move over childcare, the new kid on the block has four legs and a furry disposition. Would you ever take up the offer of ‘pup-ternity’ leave?
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Just off to the shelter now to pick up several four-legged friends to justify my inaction…
I think the people taking leave should be applauded as responsible pet owners. Too many people think domestic animals (particularly cats) can be left to their own devices. The consequences of such carelessness include nuisance to neighbours, illness and injury for the animals and unwanted breeding putting a strain on animal shelters.
So to relate the subject to procurement, TCO and CSR considerations are all too often overlooked by prospective pet owners.