Six Notable Pet Cemeteries
Pets are an important part of many families. When their beloved animals pass away, some owners want them to have a formal final resting place. The pet cemetery fulfills this purpose, and many of these unique burial grounds have been in existence longer than people might expect.
Ancaster Pet Cemetery
Hamilton, Ontario’s Ancaster Pet Cemetery has been open for almost five decades. Roughly 50 animals are buried there each year. A full range of services are offered, including:
- Burial sites
- Caskets and urns
- Memorials and monuments
The property is currently for sale for $325,000 and features:
- Three acres
- Chapel
- Tractor
- Approximately 2,500 remaining burial plots
Le Cimetiere des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques
Founded in 1899, Le Cimetiere des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques (Cemetery of Dogs and Other Domestic Animals) is in a Paris suburb. It opened after a French law was passed, forbidding city residents from disposing of deceased pets wherever they pleased, including in the garbage or river. The cemetery has many ornate stone monuments. It is also the final resting place of Hollywood legend Rin Tin Tin. In addition to numerous dogs and cats, other animals buried on the property include:
- Birds
- Rabbits
- Fish
- Mice
- Monkey
- Lion
- Racehorse
Hartsdale Pet Cemetery
There are more than 600 pet cemeteries in America, but Hartsdale Pet Cemetery is the oldest and biggest. A 30-minute drive from Midtown Manhattan, the property is also known as “The Peaceable Kingdom.” It was established in 1896 by New York City veterinarian Samuel Johnson. He let a grieving patient bury her dog on the property, which was his summer retreat. The news spread, and mass numbers of people began contacting him about laying their animals to rest.
To date, around 80,000 pets have been interred at Hartsdale, including animals once owned by some of America’s most prominent citizens. The cemetery also has a War Dog Memorial, which honors the service and sacrifice of military canines. The same family has owned and managed the property for over 40 years. It is on the Register of National Historic Places, and is the only pet cemetery to hold this distinction.
The Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park and Crematorium
Since 1928, pet owners have been laying their animals to rest at the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park and Crematorium in Calabasas. The cemetery was founded by veterinarian Eugene Jones. Over 40,000 animals are buried on the property, including the pets of Steven Spielberg, Rudolf Valentino, Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor and Humphrey Bogart.
London’s famed Hyde Park also contains a small pet cemetery that is relatively unknown. A limited number of dogs and cats were buried there in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, beginning in 1881. In order to visit the property and view the quaint rows of tombstones with endearing inscriptions, it is necessary to make a reservation and pay a fee.
Nineteen pet cemeteries currently exist in England and Wales. In 2010, Stainton by Langworth, which is approximately two and a half hours east of Manchester, England, became the first one to permit the burial of pets alongside their owners. The proposal was passed by the local district council with virtually no opposition. The property is a little over four acres and is a designated “green” burial ground with low environmental impact. Pets laid to rest on the property are placed in biodegradable shrouds rather than coffins. Instead of traditional headstones, flat plaques or trees are used to identify graves. The hope is that the property will eventually have an orchard and small forest.
Pet cemeteries can run the gamut from historic to bucolic to downright practical. For many pet owners, they are sacred spots and hallowed grounds for cherished animals.
