The deputies of the Socialist Party (PS) Daniella Cicardini and Daniel Manouchehri, together with parliamentarians from different parties –Luis Cuello (PC), Daniel Melo (PS), Diego Ibáñez (CS), Pamela Jiles and Diego Shalper (RN)–, presented a project called “Duke Law” that seeks a work permit in case of the death of pets and an excused day of absence from school.

This new project was presented following the death of the pet of renowned journalist José Antonio Neme, who called on the authorities to demand the right to mourn for a pet. A similar initiative had already been entered in 2021 by National Renewal.

The project seeks to recognize that “in each of the homes in Chile the pet is part of the family.”

“When today there are spaces and respect to grieve when a loved one dies, we believe that when a pet dies, that caregiver also has the same right to grieve appropriately,” said Cicardini, a parliamentarian for the Atacama Region.

The law seeks that the person who has their pet or companion animal registered in the National Pet Registry has one business day of leave in the event of its death.

Similarly, the same right is also sought for basic and secondary education students, so that they can be absent for a business day for the same reason.