Dogs Trust launches campaign to offer grieving pet lovers compassionate leave

'Not Just a Dog' outlines the importance of time to grieve and process the passing of a four-legged family member

PJ Gallagher and his dog Stella at the launch of Not Just a Dog, a new campaign by Dogs Trust Ireland to highlight the devastating effect a dog's death can have on their owners. The charity is appealing to employers to offer compassionate leave to staff should their beloved pet pass away.

Irish animal welfare charity Dogs Trust has launched a campaign to highlight the effect a dog’s death can have on their owners, and campaign for employers to offer compassionate leave to employees in the event of a pet's passing.

Research carried out by the charity revealed over half of dog owners felt the grief they experienced after the fact was similar or worse to the loss of a family member, with a further 38% stating they were surprised by how deeply they were affected.