Following the heartbreaking decision by Corrie’s Evelyn to have her beloved dog Cerberus put to sleep, we ask…
WORDS: VERONIQUE HAWKSWORTH. MAIN PHOTO (POSED BY MODEL): GETTY
YES‘Colleagues urged me to take more time off’
Kelly Vowles, 40, lives in Swindon with her husband Leigh, and owns Pixal-Rose Hair Design. When I adopted my mixed collie Jenna in 2013, she became my best friend. She loved joining me at work, greeting my salon clients with an excited waggy tail, and curling up in front of the TV with me and my husband in the evenings.
Then in January this year she passed away unexpectedly, aged 16. I needed time to grieve, but with a full week of hair appointments booked, I worried about letting clients down. After two days at home, I dragged myself back to work. Colleagues urged me to take more time off, but I thought being at work would take my mind off things. It didn’t, and I just felt worse.
Now I’m having counselling, because by not giving myself time to process Jenna’s death, it has caused grief-related anxiety. If I had just taken longer off work, I would have had that time to deal with my emotions properly. I know some people will think, ‘It’s just a pet, it’s not the same as losing a person.’ But pets are part of the family and the loss of their presence in your life is felt tremendously.
If workplaces gave compassionate leave as standard for people who have lost a pet, not only would it give people time to come to terms with their loss, but would likely open up more frank conversations about how we handle grief in the workplace.
I miss Jenna terribly, but I’ve realised the only way to feel better is to give yourself the time and kindness needed.
NO ‘Small business owners could be left seriously out of pocket’
Jacqui Deevoy, 59, is a London-based freelance journalist and film-
