Grief Dog Lawsuit | FFFW 238

Y’all, it’s May 23rd. This is the only Friday that falls on the 23rd this whole year. So, this is our Jordan day. You only get one shot—so wear your black shoes, stick your tongue out when you’re focused, and make bold moves in the prep room today. Legends aren’t born—they’re embalmed with precision and then handed a clipboard to run the place.

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Grief Dog Listed as Mascot on Funeral Page—PETA and Labor Bureau Have Serious Questions

Sunset Meadows Funeral Home’s website proudly features Scout, a six-year-old golden doodle, as “Office Mascot, Emotional Support Specialist, and Director of Snuggles.” But what was intended as a heartwarming bio has raised eyebrows with two unexpected agencies: PETA and the U.S. Department of Labor.

“We just want to know—was this dog consulted before being given a job title?” said a PETA representative, noting that Scout’s profile photo features him in a necktie, which they’ve classified as a possible “canine dress code violation.”

The Labor Bureau, meanwhile, has launched a formal inquiry into potential unpaid labor. “If this animal is working full-time hours, appearing in marketing materials, and has a listed role in operations, we need to determine if he’s being compensated appropriately,” said investigator Mark Delaney. “Treats and head pats may not meet federal minimum wage standards.”

A deeper audit revealed Scout has appeared in 42 Instagram posts, 3 funeral livestreams, and a holiday card campaign without ever clocking in. One photo even shows him seated at the arrangement table with a pen in his mouth, which the Bureau is reviewing as “evidence of administrative duties.”

Funeral home staff maintain that Scout enjoys his role and is “free to leave at any time,” although insiders say he prefers to nap in the casket showroom and refuses to go outside during rain.

For now, Scout remains on the payroll—emotionally, if not legally. Labor officials say a decision is expected soon. PETA, in the meantime, is offering to rehome him to a “less emotionally taxing position in a candle shop.”

Trivia

Choose the correct answer and you’ll see a puppy. Get it wrong and you’ll see someone hurting themselves.

Which U.S. state had the lowest age-adjusted death rate per 100,000 people in 2023?

A. Hawaii
B. California
C. Utah

You Otter Be Proud

Here’s some good news going on in the profession.

1.  Unique Program Recycles Pacemakers Retrieved from the Deceased
2. People Magazine Covers Funeral Profession Story
3. Fifth-generation funeral director Jeff Monreal helps families grieve, celebrate loved ones