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Mel Greig insists 'fur mums' deserve the same rights as working parents after her dog's health scare

By Maddison Leach|

Mel Greig's worst nightmare unfolded last week when she took her dog Mia to work, only to rush her to the vet hours later as the Maltese-miniature poodle cross had a seizure.

Had the Aussie media personality not decided to take Mia into the office that day, she may have arrived home too late to save her 'fur baby'.

"That's one of my worst fears, and that's why I'll never work for a business that's not pet-friendly, because I could just never take that risk," Greig tells 9Honey.

"The thought of her being at home alone, sick and not being there if something like that happenedกญ. maybe she wouldn't have made it."

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Mel Greig poses with her Maltese x Miniature Poodle Mia.
Mel Greig poses with her Maltese x miniature poodle, Mia. (Instagram)

Mia had been to the vet a few days prior, where she was diagnosed with kennel cough and sent home with steroids, but her condition only worsened over the weekend.

Nervous about her nine-year-old pooch's health, Greig decided not to risk leaving her at home on Monday and took her to the office. That choice saved Mia's life.

"It turns out it had progressed into pneumonia and she was really lethargic at work, so I booked her in for the vet that night," Greig says.

"We were 10 minutes from the vet and she had a seizure in the car. Basically her body was shutting down because her blood pressure was so low from the pneumonia."

Thankfully Mia has since recovered, but the terrifying ordeal has cemented Greig's decision to never work for an employer that doesn't have a pet-friendly office policy.

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Mia makes herself at home in the office.
Mia makes herself at home in the office. (Supplied)

In fact, she's going so far as to demand that 'fur mums' and 'fur dads' be given the same accommodations as parents in the workplace.

"I love this dog as though she is my child, so I believe that I do deserve the same rights and I'm not going to work for an employer that doesn't see that," Greig insists.

"Mia's always going to come first, just like a child would."

With that in mind, Greig wants all 'fur parents' to be allowed to bring pets into the office and leave work early or call out to care for them.

"I love this dog as though she is my child, so I believe that I do deserve the same rights."?

She even negotiated a clause in her current contract so she can finish work at 4pm each day and get home in time to walk Mia before it's dark.

"[My boss] needs to see it as though this is my child," Greig explains, adding that she's more loyal to her boss for allowing the clause.

"If a child was sick, you'd go home or you'd need to pick them up from daycare. For me, I need to be home so I can walk Mia before it turns dark."

Greig knows her comments will be divisive, especially among parents who disagree that cats and dogs should be treated the same as human children.

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But Mia got Greig through "the darkest times" of her life after coming into her care when Grieg's mother, Mia's previous owner, died seven years ago.

"Every aspect of what a mother feels for their tiny little child, I feel for Mia. It's not just a dog," Greig says.

"The only people that don't understand that are the people that have children or don't have a dog. That unconditional bond and love is just as strong as a mother to a real child."

Greig will never have children of her own for a number of reasons, including endometriosis, and wants to see Aussie workplaces embrace more flexibility "for both pets and children".

In her mind, that means opening up more offices to pets and approving 'fur mum leave' for people like her who need to tend to sick pets.

READ MORE: How two Aussie mums became millionaires from their backyard shed

Greig's colleagues - like Michelle Fragar (pictured) - love having pets in the office.
Greig's boss, BRANDiT Director Michelle Fragar, loves having pets in the office. (Supplied)

The BRANDiT office where Greig works is used to having plenty of pooches in, Greig saying their company brightens everyone's day; including a colleague who is allergic to dogs and takes medication when the furry friends are in.

"If you really want the best out of your employees, look at what's important to them in their lives, show some interest and see where you can be flexible," Greig says.

She recognises it can't be a free-for-all and certain rules need to be put in place for pet-friendly offices to work.

For one, pets need to be toilet trained and well-behaved to be allowed in, and they shouldn't disrupt staff or productivity.

But some people would strongly disagree with allowing pets into their office, even with those rules in place.

Other dogs also frequent the office, including Buzz (pictured).
Other dogs also frequent the office, including Buzz (pictured). (Supplied)

Pet allergies are common and while symptoms are rarely life-threatening, many Aussies with these allergies would prefer not to have to deal with them at work.

Other people don't want the distraction of having pets in the office, while some have had traumatic experiences with dogs and prefer to avoid them.

But Greig says people need to be understanding of the needs of 'fur parents' and make accommodations, especially for well-behaved pets.

"Mia's just a small white, fluffy dog, she doesn't cause any harm. She'll occasionally want a few pats from people, but she's not making a mess," she insists.

Now she's urging other Aussie 'fur parents' to start a conversation with their employers about creating more pet-friendly workplaces.

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