I keep pets and I have exotics. Recently I lost a beloved pet of mine (giant snail) very suddenly. I'd had them from a tiny egg, it was devastating.
I wasn't scheduled to work on that day but had been called up and asked to cover a shift that quite literally had just started. I was still in the process of bawling but said I could make it. Due to heavy traffic and roadworks, I took maybe 30-40 minutes, so I was late to cover.
This was apparently enough to write me up over, even though I mentioned I'd be late, and explained that my pet had died. I still came in, but it felt like I'd been punished for trying.