Petition · past parliament
Recognise pets as dependents in rights to time off work for dependents
Closed
88 signatures
What the petition asks
Employees have legal rights to take time off work in certain circumstances involving their dependents. This currently applies to immediate family or other people living in the same household. Household pets should be recognised within this. For people who have pets, their pets are dependents.
Recognising pets as dependents would allow employees to take emergency time off for dependents for unavoidable appointments for household pets to the vets or vet hospital in emergency, without being penalised.
Timeline
| 28 Oct 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 28 Apr 2022 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
88
Status
Closed
Opened
28 Oct 2021
Closed
28 Apr 2022
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.