When my maternity leave ended with my first son, I was a mess. I didn’t know how in the world I was going to leave my tiny baby with some stranger. Well, at least he wasn’t alone or in a locked in a kennel. Pet parents go through the similar rollercoaster of emotions when they leave their pet alone for the first time. Yet, many of them do not or can not take time off to get their new pet acclimated to the new surroundings before they are left alone. Many domesticated pets, especially dogs, are pack animals. They are not meant to be alone. Paw-ternity is a growing trend in the UK and with some US pet bases business. Yep, you read that right. It’s paid time off for the arrival of a new pet. Yes, I know, there are some people out there that will find …show more content…
Most of the time, these poor souls have already been neglected and abused. By giving them a loving home, I help them trust people and other dogs again. Sometimes I see a dog get returned in less than 48 hours. Some of the excuses are: the dog is no longer potty trained, separation anxiety, he tried to bite me. These are all legitimate reasons to return a dog. How is it that a dog that was fostered in another’s home completely change when they go to their forever home? Stress. There is always a decompression period when you bring a cat or dog into a new environment. Think about how you would feel to have your life disrupted. All the sudden you’re plucked from one place, popped in another and left by yourself. The good news is that it’s all fixable behaviors with a little patience and time. Yes, the keyword is time. Unfortunately, due to most people’s working schedules, therein lies the problem. You can not afford or do not have the time to take off to help acclimate your new furababy into your home. This is way I’m all for pawternity leave. It’s a great solution for those who want a pet, but need the extra time to spend with them in the