In a move that cities across the country could follow, New York City is considering a new law that would allow employees to use paid sick leave to care for ailing pets.
The bill updates the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act, which allows employees time off to take care of themselves or sick family members, but the change would see that start to apply to pets and service animals as well.
“We can all agree that there is a mental health crisis in our city, and one of the ways to deal with this crisis is to make it easier to own a pet,” Councilmember Shaun Abreu, a Democrat representing Manhattan’s 7th District who introduced the proposal, told 1010 WINS.
Abreu referenced data that shows the impact animal ownership has on reducing cortisol levels, and increasing serotonin and dopamine, which are associated with well-being and relaxation. He also pointed to some physical factors of owning a pet, like walking a dog for example, which could promote exercise and aid New Yorkers’ physical health.
“It’s one of the ways to tackle social isolation and to make us less anxious, more relaxed, less depressed, happier, right,” Abreu said. “I think for a long time, we have seen ways of addressing the mental health crisis and treatment like medication, or how many psychiatric beds do we need. All of that is very important, but there are ways to address preventable factors.”
According to the American Pets Products Association survey of 2023 and 2024, about 66% of households in the United States own a pet. About 50% of NYC residents own pets, Abreu says, and keeping that number high is of the upmost importance to promote health and help keep them out of animal shelters, which are bursting at the seams.
“If we can have 50% of our households having animals, protecting that, you know, means a lot for our mental health and our health overall,” Abreu said.
The law already provided workers at companies with 100 or more employees up to 56 hours of paid leave for year for illness or injury, or to care for a family member. Those at smaller businesses are entitled to up to 40 hours.
When asked about critics, Abreu said that the amendment doesn’t bump these numbers, simply expands the scope of reasons people could take leave.
“It’s not going to add any more days then you’re already entitled under the law,” he said. “Also, the current paid sick leave law already allows you to care for a family member. Who’s to say that an animal is not a family member?”
Gary Sowder contributed to this report.