Floppy-eared mutt Jackson gets so panicked every time he’s alone in a room his owner has no choice but to work-from-home.

When Ann Lowe, 45, first saw the scruffy Cavapoo-Basset cross, she sensed something was off about him. However, his irresistible cuteness made it impossible for her to leave him behind.

Ann and her wife Lyn, 52, had wanted a dog for some time before hearing there was a dog in need of rehoming advertised on a pet rehoming platform.

Unbeknownst to them, Jackson would deliver immense joy while introducing significant complexity into their lives. This little mutt becomes extremely anxious if left alone.

Ann says the flexibility of her freelance job, and understanding clients, means she is able to manage both Jackson and her busy 9-5.

Jackson’s experience aligns with recent findings from the prominent animal welfare charity Blue Cross. Their research reveals that over 40% (45%) of UK workers have switched to remote or hybrid work models due to the flexibility these roles offer for pet care.

Nearly half of dog-owners (46%) said they had felt judged or unsupported at work due to their responsibilities to their pet.

Over one in 10 (16%) would even consider changing jobs if required to return to the office full-time. In comparison, more than half (55%) would give up a pay increase or vacation days for more flexibility.

When Ann Lowe, 45, first saw Jackson the scruffy Cavapoo-Basset cross, she sensed something was off about him, but his irresistible cuteness made it impossible for her to leave him behind

Floppy-eared mutt Jackson gets so panicked every time he’s alone in a room his owner has no choice but to work-from-home

And half of dog-owning staff (50%) admit they are currently considering moving jobs to better meet their pooch’s needs.

It comes as ever more staff return to the office five years after the pandemic when global lockdowns sparked a work-from-home revolution.

However, the push to return to the office is putting pressure on rehoming centers. Blue Cross has reported an 18% rise in the number of dogs entering their care. Many of these cases are due to changes in work circumstances making pet care challenging or unfeasible.

Recalling the day she first set eyes on Jackson, Ann said: ‘The woman who sold him to us arrived home as we were waiting in the driveway, so we walked into her house at the same time as her.

‘My heart melted the moment I saw him. He was in this huge, very clean house all on his own – no mum, no litter mates, no toys, no smell of dog.

‘When he wandered across to us to say hello, we knew something was very wrong with him and the situation he was in and that we had to get him out of there.

‘He was a really sick puppy. What we later discovered was he had been left alone for long periods of time after suffering extreme trauma when he came over from Ireland as a tiny pup.’

Jackson’s start in life was harrowing. Ann believes he came from a puppy farm, transported across the Irish Sea in a car boot, with another puppy that died beside him during the trip.

‘Wounds like that don’t heal,’ says Ann. ‘I’ve heard of cases of puppies being in a bad state, but this was one of the worst.’

Ann and Lyn only discovered a year later, reading in a newspaper, that the woman who had sold them Jackson had gone to prison for puppy farming.

Ann says the flexibility of her freelance job, and understanding clients, means she is able to manage both Jackson and her busy 9-5

Jackson’s start in life was harrowing. Ann believes he came from a puppy farm, transported across the Irish Sea in a car boot, with another puppy that died beside him during the trip

Once they brought him back to their home in Warrington, near Manchester, Ann and Lyn realised just how unwell he really was.

‘He was so small, and his eyes weren’t alive the way you’d expect with a puppy. He was sick on Lyn on the way home and we put it down to motion sickness, but then when we got him home, he didn’t want to drink water or eat.’

‘He would have very short moments of interaction with us but would go downhill so quickly. We then started to notice blood in his poo.’

Taking him to the vets for treatment, their fears were validated. The vet confirmed Jackson had been severely neglected.

Leaving Jackson alone thereafter was impossible. They were both terrified he would stop breathing if they did.

‘His breathing was very slow, especially in the night and so we would bring him up onto the bed to sleep on our pillows, with him on our heads, or with a hand on his chest to feel his heart beating. It was an incredibly difficult time,’ she remembers.

But the bigger challenge soon emerged: Jackson simply could not cope with being left – even for a few minutes.

‘If I so much as went into another room, he would have an absolute meltdown,’ Ann explains.

She tried leaving him in the bathroom with the radio on, surrounded by comforts. But every time she returned home, she was greeted by ‘absolute carnage’.

‘The bowls of food and water would have been thrown around and emptied and there would be poo, wee and vomit everywhere. I could hear him crying and howling as I left and then the same when I got home and our neighbour told me he didn’t stop the whole time I was gone.’

Taking him to the vets for treatment, their fears were validated. The vet confirmed Jackson had been severely neglected

Leaving him always triggered a tummy upset for a few days. ‘The devastation of him being left would make him really ill, physically sick,’ she says.

‘And to this day, if we have to leave him with someone, there tends to be a similar relapse.’

Eventually Ann decided the only option was to build her life around Jackson. As a freelancer, she now works with artisan food firm Spice Kitchen, who she says have been hugely supportive of her need to work from home.

‘Working from home means there isn’t an issue with caring for him. I’m always here, while Lyn is at work (three days per week) and then I try to arrange my meetings/appointments on days when she is here.’

Once they discovered the impact on Jackson of being left alone, they decided not to renew their passports – so for the time they have left with him it’s just UK holidays and he and their second dog Marla always come with them.

They either get shopping delivered or work it around when Lyn is at home. The main thing is Jackson is never left on his own.

Ann said: ‘For emergencies, my mum – who he loves – is just around the corner. She can look after him and sometimes he will settle with her, sometimes not.

‘She is 83 and so we only ask her for small amounts of time, special occasions and emergencies.

‘Out of everyone we know, she has been the most constant ‘other’ human in Jackson’s life so he does love and trust her more than anyone else and she buys his favourite treats so that’s a big tick in her favour.’

Once they discovered the impact on Jackson of being left alone, they decided not to renew their passports – so for the time they have left with him it’s just UK holidays

Overall, Jackson has come through the worst of his difficulties and is lovely to family and friend visitors. He copes well with short visits but can retreat if people stay for a night or more and will keep to himself.

‘People bringing deliveries to the house will always result in barking but as soon as he meets people, he is very friendly!’ says Ann.

‘And I know at work, if it wasn’t a food environment they’d welcome him with open arms,’ she smiles.

‘Even though he’s not there, they adore him and he does sometimes even feature on a work Zoom meeting, if he’s in the right mood. If he gets bored he just leaves!’ laughs Ann.

Slowly, Jackson has found his voice — quite literally.

‘He’s a real communicator,’ Ann laughs. ‘He’ll bang the door when he needs a wee or make a cry if he needs a poo. It’s completely different to his ‘I want food’ cry. He’s very much alive and expressing himself — it’s so lovely.’

The bond, she says, runs deeper than many outsiders would ever understand.

‘People who don’t have pets don’t get it. A friend’s cat died and she was back at work the next day. If it had been a child, that would be unthinkable.’

‘I really believe we should have statutory allowance for grieving when a pet dies. The pain of bereavement from losing a pet needs to be acknowledged.’

For Ann, there’s no question of compromise when it comes to leaving Jackson to go to work.

Ann added: ‘If the freelance work dried up and the only way was to take a pay cut to work from home, I’d do it. Even though it would hurt me financially, I’d do it for Jackson.’

‘He’s taught me patience, respect, and how to go at his pace. Sometimes the amount of love I feel for him takes me by surprise. He’s been an absolute gift. I’m so glad we found him.’

For Ann, there’s no question of compromise when it comes to leaving Jackson to go to work

‘I think that work policies need to be more inclusive, to let people bring their dogs in where practical.’

Blue Cross is calling on businesses to embrace more compassionate and flexible work arrangements policies; including remote or hybrid flexibility and dog-friendly offices to prevent staff having to choose between their dog or their job.

The study suggests firms that are more pet-inclusive stand to benefit – from improved team morale, to picking from a wider pool of talent.

According to the research, a third (33%) of UK bosses are considering pooch-friendly policies in view to enticing more of their own hybrid or WFH staff back into the office. While more than one in ten already (12%) have a policy in place.

Ann said: ‘I respect that employers need to be able to make choices too. My main client, Spice Kitchen, is in food manufacturing and so I realise that I can’t demand a space for Jackson (and our other dog Marla) there as there are all sorts of risks.’

‘But, bereavement policies, being able to take time for vet appointments in the same way as people with children are able to leave to care for their kids if needed is a step in the right direction.’

‘And of course if a workplace is suitable for a dog and the dog is ok with being there, then this is the ideal scenario.’

According to the Blue Cross research, nearly six in ten business leaders (59%) believe dog owners should be given similar flexibility to parents.

And, more than half (58%) of dog-owning employees say they would spend more days in the office if they were allowed to bring their faithful Fido in to work with them.

A quarter of applicants say they actively look for firms offering pet-friendly offices with doggy daycare (26%) and hybrid flexibility arrangements (46%) to accommodate their four-legged friend.

However, companies reluctant to make allowances for man’s best friend, could ultimately pay the price.

According to the study, 15% of dog-owners would put their pooch before their pay cheque, insisting they would quit if they were ordered back into the office full-time.