In 1896, a grieving woman’s dog had just died and she wanted to give it a proper burial. Her veterinarian offered a spot in his apple orchard north of the city and soon the vet was besieged with similar requests. Today, his former country retreat is the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery & Crematory, the first pet cemetery in the United States and the final resting place of more than 70,000 dogs, cats, and other animals.
Not surprisingly, many pet owners refer to their pets s part of their family. Initially pet cemeteries were started for dog owners but over time, cat owners and other pet owners started to bury their pets in cemeteries as well.
To learn more about the history of pet cemeteries, click here.