A foundation has decided, for the first time in Romania, to grant two days off to employees mourning the loss of their dog, recognizing the essential role of pets in family life.
The death of a pet is as painful as that of a family member. PHOTO: archive
The Speranța Shelter Foundation decided to give its employees two days off for mourning in the unfortunate event that their dog dies. The measure, unique so far in Romania and considered a gesture of empathy towards the strong bond that people develop with their animals, aims to become a model for other employers as well, in the context where labor legislation currently does not include such a provision.
The Speranța Shelter, founded in 1996 and known as one of the most modern and well-equipped private animal shelters in the country, promotes responsible adoptions and respect for animals.
In Popești-Leordeni, the foundation owns a shelter with approximately 500 places, of which over 200 are occupied by old, abandoned dogs or dogs with various conditions, including paraplegics. The animals are treated, sterilized and microchipped in their own clinic, and until adoption they benefit from play areas, relaxation areas and specialized care.
The foundation's representatives point out that the loss of a dog can cause the same pain as the loss of a family member.
“Dogs are the most faithful and best friends that some people have for a lifetime. Especially for our employees, dogs are family members. When the one who brought us so much joy and who was by our side at all times dies, we are devastated. That's why we thought of giving them this form of respect for their dog and this possibility to say goodbye properly.” said Anca Tomescu, director of the Speranța Shelter.
Although employees informally benefited from time off in such situations, the foundation has now decided to legalize the measure, going to introduce it into employment contracts.
The aim of the initiative is not only to provide emotional support to employees, but also to send a wider message to society, in favor of a more empathetic attitude towards pets.
The announcement was made through a message shared on the Foundation's Facebook page.
“We decided to offer two days off automatically to Esperanta employees who are grieving the loss of a dog. It seems like the least we could do for someone going through such great pain.
And speaking of which, there's no need to hide it or feel somehow flawed or ashamed that we feel it: is COMPLETED losing an animal that you were very attached to, because the type of relationship you have with a pet is simply unique, an extremely strong bond and a connection like no other in life.
Losing dogs, especially (because we generally take them with us everywhere and have very deep bonds), is incredibly hard, and it's only natural that it should be. Because we associate them with everything that means that unconditional love that only they know how to offer, but especially because they represent everything that is pleasant and beautiful about our lives: regular physical activity, new experiences, socialization, emotional support, identity, purpose and many more.
We would very much like to live in a country where more attention is paid to these things, namely to these absolutely special relationships that we create with our animals. But, until we change the country and the world, we have to change ourselves, and we have done it, through this decision.
In closing, a kind thought and a big hug for all those who are now (some even after many years, ouch!) going through the endless pain of losing an animal. We know how damn hard it is and there are many who do. Talk about it with your loved ones or even strangers who have felt the same things, for example in the comments on this post.” it says in the foundation's message.
