- New York lawmakers are considering the Sick Leave for Pets Care Act, which would allow employees to use accrued paid sick leave to care for sick companion or service animals.
- Introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Manny De Los Santos, the proposal would not require employers to provide additional days off, but instead expands the eligible uses for existing leave.
- If passed, New York would become one of the first states to explicitly recognize caring for a sick pet as a valid reason to use paid sick leave.
- While states including Missouri, Illinois, and Maryland have introduced pet care or bereavement leave proposals, no state currently guarantees leave for pet care or loss.
- The legislation was referred to the New York State Assembly Labor Committee in January 2026 and remains under consideration.
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