It’s a dilemma every pet owner faces, what to do with the animal after death: burial, cremation, taxidermy?
The largest and oldest pet cemetery in North America, Harstdale in New York, was recently named to the National Register of Historic Places. Historian for the U.S. register, Kevin Moriarty, said that among 2,698 cemeteries registered ‘historic,’ Hartsdale is the only pet cemetery to be chosen, he told the Calgary Herald, and it’s notable because its 115-year-old history marks a sharp change in how humans related to animals.
“It was in the early 20th century that pets began to be considered family members rather than livestock,” he said. “Before then, a dead animal was likely to go out with the garbage.”
The cemetery dates back to 1896 when veterinarian Dr. Samuel Johnson, who worked out of Manhattan, offered to help a grieving pet owner. Her dog had just died and she wanted to give it a proper burial, but the New York City health department laws prevented this, according to the cemetery’s website.
After considering the problem, the compassionate doctor offered his own rural property. If the woman was willing to make the trip to Hartsdale, he would allow her to bury the animal in his apple orchard. The woman gratefully accepted. After mentioning the incident in passing to a reporter friend, a story about the pet burial appeared in the newspaper, resulting in number of pet owners contacting Johnson. From then on word spread and the Hartsdale pet cemetery continued to grow. Today, it is the final resting place of more than 70,000 animals, including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and even a lion cub.
Famous people like Diana Ross and Mariah Carey as well as pet lovers from every walk of life have had their pets buried at the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery. So, before it comes time to say goodbye to your furry loved one, it wouldn’t hurt to do a little pre-planning to ensure you’re not making major decisions during your time of grief.
There are many options for your pet, from burial and cremation to more unorthodox methods like taxidermy and mummification. Many websites are home to virtual memorial pages with some of the most touching stories you will ever read. Like the one about a St. Bernard named Lady Louise who helped an 18-year-old through his battle with cervical spinal cancer, or Popeye, a “good ol’ boy” and “the very last of all the Carolina Yeller Dogs.”
In this Internet age, it’s easy to share wonderful memories of your pet – from Facebook to virtual pet cemeteries, the important thing is that your pet is lovingly remembered.
Photo Credit: Hatsdale Pet Cemetery & Crematory