This beautiful hillside cemetery on busy Central Avenue in Hartsdale, New York is one of the most famous pet cemeteries in the country. Hartsdale is about 30 minutes north of New York City and The Hartsdale Pet Cemetery is the final resting place for nearly 70,000 pets including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and even a lion cub. And although some of the world 's most renowned people - from Diana Ross and Mariah Carey to Robert Merrill to the late Kate Smith - have their pets buried at the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery - pet lovers from every station of life have had pets buried and cremated here, too. The only requirement is that all the pets were special and very much loved. I visited the cemetery many times while living in Hartsdale and never tired of seeing the tributes paid to animals who were beloved members of their families.
Walk though the cemetery and you'll see a variety of unique headstones and remembrances including one for the canine rescue teams and their trainers who participated in the rescue mission following 1995's tragic Oklahoma City Bombing, headstones for the pets of stage and screen personalities including Gloria DeHaven, Barry Gray, Edwin C. Hill, George Raft, and Herb Shriner. Beloved pets of classical musicians Howard Barlow, Frieda Hempel, Fritz Kreisler and Robert Merrill also have pets buried at Hartsdale. From business and finance you'll see the names of Elizabeth Arden and the infamous millionaire Hetty Green (whose dog was aptly named Money).
The cemetery specializes in individual burials and cremation services (including same day which I understand is very popular). The staff is compassionate and very sensitive to the grieving of pet owners and they welcome visitors through their gates seven days a week.
www.petcem.com
more