New York lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow employees to use their paid sick leave to look after their pets.
Dubbed the “Sick Leave for Pet Care Act”, the legislation was introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Manny De Los Santos in January 2025 and is backed by eight other lawmakers.
According to a 2023 Pew Research Centre survey, 97% of American pet owners consider their pets part of their family, with 51% considering them just as important as human family members.
How would sick leave for pets work?
Under the proposed legislation, employees would be entitled to take time off for veterinary appointments, medical treatment and preventive care for their pets.
However, employers would not be required to provide additional paid holidays.
Workers would instead be allowed to utilise their existing sick leave entitlement, which ranges from 40 to 56 paid hours annually for eligible employees.
The legislation would cover both service animals and animals legally kept for companionship.
What if your pet dies?
New York is not the only US state where lawmakers have proposed legislation recognising the emotional attachment between humans and their pets.
Earlier this year, a bill introduced in Missouri proposed three days of bereavement leave, including one paid day, following the death of a pet.
Similar legislation introduced in Illinois proposed five days of unpaid leave to mourn a pet’s death.
Neither proposal became law.
Meanwhile, the New York bill remains under consideration by the state’s Assembly Labor Committee.
