Purpose - Ask Ohio lawmakers to recognize companion animal loss through a balanced workplace bereavement leave policy that supports employees while respecting employers.

Support Recognition of Companion Animal Bereavement in Ohio Workplaces
For many Ohio families, companion animals are not simply pets. They are beloved members of the family who provide companionship, comfort, emotional support, and unconditional love.

When a companion animal passes away, the loss can be deeply painful and life-changing. The grief experienced after losing a companion animal is real, yet it is often misunderstood or minimized.

This type of grief is often referred to as disenfranchised grief—a loss that is not fully recognized, acknowledged, or socially supported.

For more than 13 years, Jennifer Owens has supported individuals and families through companion animal loss and grief. Through this work, she has witnessed how deeply the human-animal bond affects people's lives and how difficult it can be when that loss is not recognized.

Ohio has an opportunity to create a compassionate and balanced workplace policy that acknowledges this reality.

The proposed Ohio Companion Animal Bereavement Leave Act would provide a limited leave option for eligible employees following the loss of a companion animal while maintaining important protections for employers.

The proposed legislation would:

Apply to employers with 25 or more employees;
Require employees to have worked for their employer for 12 consecutive months;
Provide up to two paid working days when paid bereavement leave is already offered;
Provide up to three unpaid, job-protected working days when paid leave is unavailable;
Limit use to one companion animal every six months;
Allow employers to require reasonable documentation.
This proposal does not compare companion animal loss to human loss.

Instead, it recognizes that grief is a human experience and that meaningful losses can affect a person's emotional well-being, ability to focus, and ability to manage daily responsibilities.

A compassionate workplace policy benefits both employees and employers by allowing individuals a brief, structured period to address a significant loss and return to work prepared.

We Are Asking Ohio Lawmakers To:
✓ Recognize companion animal bereavement as a meaningful workplace issue.

✓ Consider the Ohio Companion Animal Bereavement Leave Act.

✓ Support a balanced approach that respects employees and employers.

✓ Help reduce the stigma surrounding companion animal grief.

Why Your Signature Matters
By signing this petition, you are showing Ohio legislators that residents believe companion animal grief deserves recognition, understanding, and thoughtful consideration.

Every signature helps demonstrate that this issue affects Ohio families, workplaces, and communities.

Please sign and share this petition with others who understand the importance of the human-animal bond.

Thank You

Thank you for standing with Ohio families who have experienced the loss of a beloved companion animal and supporting a more compassionate workplace approach.

Together, we can encourage Ohio to recognize companion animal bereavement while creating a balanced policy that works for everyone.