More and more businesses are offering employees 'pet leave' so they can look after new pets.
Paw-ternity leave and flexible hours to care for new pets are becoming more accepted in workplaces here and overseas.
Although the New Zealand birth rate has been in decline since the 1960s, New Zealand is a nation of pet lovers, and Kiwis own more pets per household than anywhere elsein the world, apart from the United States, according to a 2016 report by the New Zealand Companion Animal Council.
Furry companions are often viewed as members of the family, and some businesses are acknowledging the important role pets play in workers' well-being.
Rebecca Davidson, the commercial manager at Esportif International, was recently given two days of paid leave by her employer after adding a pup named Maggie to her family.
Davidson says the work flexibility offered by her employer has made it easier to look after both her fur and human babies.
Davidson says she supports the "paw-ternity" and flexible hours trend as long as it doesn't interfere with employees' ability to do their jobs.
She has also noticed a growing trend of pets being allowed in New Zealand workplaces.
"I go to a lot of advertising and PR agencies around town and there's always an office dog or two, so I think that's the way it's going," Davidson says.
The "paw-ternity" trend is also becoming more common internationally. At least 20 UK businesses reportedly offer up to one week of paid leave to pet owners.
The policies include bereavement leave in the event of pet death as well as flexibility for employees to take their pets to veterinary appointments.
