Beloved Pets
Shanna Riley March 17th, 2008
Family members aren't the only ones to be interred and remembered in cemeteries. Though rare, it's always a pleasure to come upon a memorial marker - or even an actual grave - of a beloved pet.
Though pet cemeteries do exist, you can sometimes come upon markers or graves for the furriest members of a family in regular, "human" graveyards.
I've never seen an actual pet cemetery - though would love to find one (anyone know of any in or around Louisiana?) - but have come across graves and memorial markers like this one here.
Being a huge animal-lover myself, I can certainly understand the desire to leave behind a more permanent marker or memorial for a dearly departed pet.
I suppose if I had the money and means, I would have markers made for the pets we have lost over the years and that are buried in our own, small "pet cemetery" behind the home where I grew up in Maringouin, Louisiana. Years and generations of beloved animals - dogs, cats, birds, fish, hamsters, and even two worms named Bill & Ted - lie interred beneath the grass just behind our backyard fence; the most recent addition our beloved family beagle, Bailey, who passed away just this last November after nearly twelve wonderful years with us.
We used to mark the graves with large stones that I - as a child and young teen - would carefully inscribe names and dates into with permanent marker; but - today - I doubt any such markers remain. Still, the ground is special to us, marked or no, and we tend it with love and care.
For those with a larger bank account, options such as the photo here shows are available. What a lovely, sweet, and lasting tribute for the pets of Mr. and Mrs. Cornell. It must be nice, also, to bring flowers in memory of these animals that so obviously touched their lives very deeply.
As anyone with family pets can tell you, they are often as precious as your own children and as much a member of the family as any of their less-furry counterparts! To honor and remember them in such a way is the least that can be done to thank them for sharing such love and joy with us during their short lives.
