Paris Pet Cemetery
On the second Sunday in September, National Pet Memorial Day offers a dedicated time to remember pets who have passed.
Pets play an important role in our lives. Not only are they companions, but pets become part of the family, too. They keep us responsible, remind us to play, and offer us love and the opportunity to give love in return. When we’re too serious, they lighten up our lives. Many pets keep us healthy, too.
When we lose a beloved pet, the pain is genuine. They become family and a familiar part of our lives. Everyone mourns differently. Some pet parents plant a memorial. Whether they plant a tree, shrub or perennial flower, the plant offers an annual reminder of their pet. Others may create a stepping stone with a paw print, placing it in a garden. These actions offer a tangible way to cope with their grief.
The day also offers an opportunity to remember the pets who’ve passed through our lives. We remember the companionship and comfort they provided to us. Don’t forget that part of the relationship included care provided by you. Memories replace the empty space left by the loss of a cherished pet.
Sometimes the most significant members of our family are often the smallest. For most people, pets are more than just animals. They are our best friends, our cherished family members, and our “kids.” We love them and value their importance just as much as that of our human family. Why, then, should it not be just as important for the ones we’ve lost to have a day of remembrance dedicated specifically to them?
This was the same thought that ran through the minds of International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories members when they decided to designate the second Sunday in September as National Pet Memorial Day. It is a day where pet lovers can remember their lost friends and show their appreciation for the love, memories, and joy their pets gave them throughout their lives. National Pet Memorial Day is now celebrated by hundreds of people all over the United States.
There are many ways to celebrate the memories of our lost loved ones and remember the times we spent together:
Pictures
Whether just browsing through a collection of photographs, making a scrapbook in their honor, or framing our favorites, pictures are a great way to remember our lost pets. They physically capture the wonderful times we had with them and often refresh memories that may be become fuzzy or even lost altogether.
Plant a Tree in Their Honor
Try planting a tree. As you watch the tree grow, it will give you a little satisfaction in helping the environment. It can be a lasting tribute to a lost, beloved pet.
Revisit Their Favorite Things
Many owners keep their favorite bowls and toys in a special place and take them out every once in a while to revisit old memories. These items were very important to your pet and hold so many fond memories that they often provide some emotional relief.
Contribute To a Charitable Organization
A great way to remember your pet is to make a donation to or volunteer at an animal-based charity or rescue group. There are so many animals out there in need of good homes so they can become cherished family members to other families. Charities and rescue groups protect these homeless pets and ensure their safety.
Remember when planning a memorial for your pet, the thought is what really counts. Keeping your loved one’s memory alive is the most important thing and no matter what you choose, there is no wrong way to do so. This year, take a few minutes out of your day to sit down and think about the wonderful animals that enriched your life.
If you are dealing with grief from the loss of a beloved animal, there are those who may be able to help. Here are just a few suggestions:
Pet Loss https://www.petloss.com/
Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Grief Center https://rainbowsbridge.com/Grief_Support_Center/Grief_Support_Home.htm
Pet Loss Forum https://forums.rainbowsbridge.com/?forum=150830
10 Tips For Coping With Pet Loss https://pet-loss.net/
Pet Loss Hotlines
ASPCA Grief Counseling HotLine: 877-GRIEF-10 or (877-474-3310). Also, you can e-mail questions to Dr. Stephanie LaFarge
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine’s free pet-loss hotline: (508) 839-7966
University of Pennsylvania, Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital: (215)-898-4556
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine: (540)-231-8038
Chicago Veterinary Medical Association
Pet Loss Support Hotline: 630-325-1600
Utah State University Hotline
Pet Loss Support Hotline: 435-757-4540 Mon-Thu from 5-7 pm MST
Email: petloss@usu.edu
TAGS (The Animal Grief Support Group)
6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday; meets second Thursday of every month.
Hope Bereavement Center, 5400 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver WA 98661
Free support group. Call 360-696-5120 for more information.
Colorado State University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Argus Institute Client Support Service
Argus Clinic Line: 970-297-1242
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine New York
Pet Loss Support Hotline: 607-253-3932
Iams Pet Loss Support or call 888-332-7738 (Open 9am to 6pm, Eastern Time, Mondays through Fridays)
Michigan State University (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine
Pet Loss Support Hotline: 517-432-2696
PetFriends
From NJ: 856-234-4688 – Outside of NJ: 800-404-PETS (7387)
SPCA (The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) of Texas, Pet Grief Counseling Support Line (Serves North Texas) 214-461-5131
Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (Massachusetts) 508-839-7966
(Companion Animal Related Emotions) Pet Loss Helpline Illinois: 217-244-CARE (2273)
University of Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Social Work Helpline: 865-755-8839
Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
Pet Loss Hotline: 866-266-8635 – Local: 509-335-5704
National Suicide Prevention Life Line: 800-273-8255
This revised listing was compiled by Lawrence Kaufman, Pet Loss and Grief Counselor. He can be reached toll free at 855-PET-LOSS (855) 738-5677, or locally at 561-498-2200 or email him at petlossgriefrelief@gmail.com, and through the contact page at www.petlossgriefrelief.com. This service is fee based.
Paris Dog Cemetery
Entrance to the cemetery
The Paris Pet Cemetery is where treasured pets and work dogs have been laid to rest for over a century. And lying on the banks of the Seine, it’s in a very serene location…
Humans have always held a fascination with mourning their furry (and scaled) animal counterparts. As far back as Ancient Egyptian times, cats were regularly mummified and buried. However, pet cemeteries, as we know them today, didn’t become really popular until the Victorian era (i.e. around the late 1800s). The largest pet cemetery in the World, Hartsdale, New York was founded around this time and today contains the remains of more than 70,000 animals- woah!
Paris has long been known for its hauntingly beautiful cemeteries; with the likes of Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrisson and Edith Piaf all finding their final resting places within the Paris peripherique. But what is little known, is that the world’s oldest public pet cemetery, lies a little outside Paris- less than half an hour by metro. Situated in Asnières-Sur-Seine, the Paris Pet Cemetery was founded in 1898.
Although many might believe that the cemetery was started for sentimental reasons, it was actually founded for health ones. In 1898, a law was passed that meant that Parisians were no longer allowed to bury their pets wherever they liked. People were even just throwing their bodies away in the garbage or discarding them in the Seine! The new law dictated that animals had to be buried at least 100m away from housing and under at least 1m of earth. And thus, the Paris Pet Cemetery was born.
Many stones, many lives.
Even though the narrow landscaped cemetery is called a ‘dog cemetery‘, it is filled with all sorts of other pets and domesticated animals. From cats to a monkey, to a horse to a chicken and even a fish, there’s over 40,000 animals interred in this peaceful location. Notable animals buried here include a dog that was a Hollywood movie star in his own right (Rin Tin Tin) and the pet lion of an early feminist. A well-known racehorse and a sheep also reside here.
What’s most surprising, is probably the fact that the cemetery looks very much like the ones intended for people (aside from the fact that everything is in miniature). There’s even a cat mausoleum at the very end of the graveyard. Since 1987, the Paris pet cemetery has been declared a national monument. Today, pets are still interred there. It’s also open for visitors to visit and is easily one of the most unusual activities to do in Paris.
PARIS DOG CEMETERY Paris, France The celebrated Parisian cemeteries of Père Lachaise, Montparnasse, and Montmartre have long been popular attractions with tourists but for the pet fanciers, the Cemetery of Dogs (said to be the world’s oldest public pet cemetery) may be the most appealing graveyard in France. Le Cimetière des Chiens lies just outside the city, in the suburb of Asnières-sur-Seine. It offers a pleasant break from more crowded tourist attractions in central Paris. CAPTION – Monument for Barry, famous bernardine dog that saved 40 people in mountains in heavy winter snow.
Source: Solosophie
