Startup from Porto offers paid family leave to workers that adopt a dog

There is a startup in Portugal that grants paid maternity leave to their staff if they adopt a dog.
Barkyn is a startup from Porto and it was established in 2017. The company's core business is pet food and it sells around 40 tons of canine food per month to several countries in Europe. They are also represented in Spain and in Italy. The cofounders of this startup are Ricardo Macedo, and André Jordão. 

Last year, the company was part of a global acceleration program that helps startups build and scale great products.

The company decided to come up with a new strategy to help "dog parents" adapt to the reality of having a "new family member": the "Barkyn Dog Parents" initiative, which provides subscription packages that not only include food plans, but also toys, and access to veterinary services.

"Having a dog requires adjustments in a household. We are aware that the first days after having a dog can be really intense and often times there are sleepless nights", André Jordão asserts; "that is why at Barkyn we provide help during the adaptation period".

The benefits of pet companionship are widely known and stand as facts at present; for instance, people with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those who don't.

Currently, the startup employs 25 people and wants to hire more staff for the Marketing and Engineering areas.