Should pet bereavement leave be available to all?

Following the heartbreaking decision by Corrie's Evelyn to have her beloved dog Cerberus put to sleep, we ask...

- VERONIQUE HAWKSWORTH

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.