Pet Memorials: Popular Pet Cemeteries in Europe

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03/25/2008

For centuries people from around the world have honored pets upon their death and buried their beloved friends with pet memorial stones or in pet urns. Now owned by the National Trust, Hughenden Manor is the country home of former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, who bought the property in 1848. Upon his death it was inherited by his nephew Coningsby Disraeli. On the grounds of the estate are five gravestones commemorating dogs that were owned by Coningsby.

Pet cemeteries are not new to history. Archaeologists have discovered two of them at the site of the ancient city of Ascalon located in the Gaza Strip controlled by Israel. In 1986 Laurence Stager’s archaeological team discovered the ancient pet cemetery of Ascalon containing the remains of over 1000 dogs. This cemetery dates to the period of Persian rule (539-332 B.C.) in Palestine .

In France, the Le Cimetière des Chiens D'Asnières-Sur-Seine is in a beautiful location on the Seine . At the entrance to the cemetery there is a large sculpture with the carving of a Saint Bernard carrying a child on its back. The dog, Barry, saved the lives of 40 people in the Alps before he lost his own life attempting a rescue for the 41st time. Another large tombstone—has a statue of a German Shepherd memorializing all police dogs who have died in action.

Another pet cemetery located in the at Brynford near Holywell in Flintshire, is an award-winning spot designed to lay family pets to rest. Last year, for the third year in a row the pet cemetery won a distinguished award for the ’s best facility of its kind from the Memorial Awareness Board, which is run by the National Association of Memorial Masons Standing in a peaceful hollow, the cemetery was a bare open pasture prior.

Brynford’s owner John Ward and his wife started the business in 1989 and claim that its pets' visitor center is the only one in their country for animals. More than 500 pets have been buried and or cremated there since its opening. The cemetery includes a chapel, tea rooms, a visitor center and seven and a half acres of beautifully landscaped gardens for the pet memorials. An Anglican priest delivers a farewell prayer with dignity. Former animal rights activist the Reverend James Thompson conducts services in the chapel where the pet's days are recounted and honored amongst loved ones.

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