What to do when your four-legged friend has to see the vet?

When the dog is unwell and urgently needs to see a vet, it often becomes a problem for the owner to get time off. This has to be solved in a way that ensures that, as a working person, you are by no means absent without an excuse. That raises the important question of whether you are allowed to stay at home to care caringly for your dog.

Options for taking time off when the dog is ill

If, for health reasons, it is by no means possible for an employed person to come to work, they can report in sick. If a child is ill, however, parents have a statutory right to time off, since caring supervision has to be guaranteed. But what is the situation when the dog or another pet is ill? In these cases there is unfortunately no direct entitlement to special leave. Solicitors specialising in employment law explain that, according to legal assessment, a dog is by no means to be equated with a human family member.

However, the equating of animals with mere objects was expressly rejected by Section 90a of the German Civil Code. Sentence 3 of the aforementioned section states that the provisions applying to objects are to be applied accordingly to animals, unless otherwise stipulated. This offers the possibility of asserting comprehensive claims under civil law, such as claims for damages if the animal is injured or warranty rights when buying an animal.

Weighing up interests and animal welfare in everyday working life, handled caringly

Whether an excused absence from the workplace is permissible often remains a decision on a case-by-case basis. If the dog is really seriously ill and no other person is available who could care caringly for the animal, the journey to work can be classified as impossible on grounds of animal welfare. A careful weighing up of the animal's interests against the employer's interests can lead to the owner being allowed to stay at home.

• No direct statutory entitlement to special leave for sick pets
• In legal terms, animals are not objects but fellow creatures to be treated caringly
• Animal welfare reasons can, in an emergency, justify staying away from the workplace
• Immediately notifying the responsible superior is an absolute duty

Anyone who, in such an emergency, immediately notifies their superior and has the animal given caring medical treatment without delay generally does not risk any warning. Nevertheless, it is advisable to settle such situations, where possible, in an unbureaucratic way and by mutual, caring agreement, so as not to burden the employment relationship unnecessarily.

This article serves as general information and as caring guidance for dog owners in difficult situations.