At first glance, you might mistake a pet cemetery for a regular burial ground. Perhaps after a moment, you’d notice the markers, mostly granite or marble, are smaller than typical headstones. Some names might sound familiar – Max, Bella, Charlie – while others like Captain Fluffbutt or Princess Meowington might hint this isn’t a place for human remains. But it’s truly the epitaphs that reveal the profound emotions present in these unique spaces. Stepping onto the well-kept grounds of Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, you’re immediately struck by heartfelt sentiments. “Dillon, a little fluffy white dog who loved biscuits, sticks, snow, fetch, burgers, walks, and sitting outside.” Another reads, “Hodge, a good gray cat.” “Sport, born a dog, died a gentleman.” “Fudge, a most remarkable cat,” and “Woodstock, one hell of a cat often mistaken for a meatloaf.” Simply, “Sandy, the best dog in America,” while nearby, “Spot, the best dog in the world.” And then there’s “Tara, The best cat ever.”
“You just don’t see these kinds of emotions expressed at human cemeteries,” notes Brian Martin, manager of Hartsdale Pet Cemetery. Human graves are often marked with a name, birth, and death date – and little else. But at Hartsdale, people freely express the immense love for their pets. Engravings read: “The love of my life,” “The most loving and sincerest friend I ever had,” “I wait to join you,” and simply, “Irreplaceable.” “There’s a lot of love here,” Martin emphasizes.
Despite the “Canine Cemetery” on its gate, Hartsdale welcomes all beloved animals. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
The Origin of Pet Cemeteries: A Story of Compassion
In the late 19th century, New York City prohibited pet burials in human cemeteries or public parks. This changed in 2017, but back in 1896, this regulation led to a poignant moment in pet history. A distraught client contacted Dr. Samuel Johnson, the official state veterinarian, after her dog passed away. Unable to bear the thought of simply disposing of her beloved companion, she reached out to Dr. Johnson. He offered to bury her dog in his orchard, about 25 miles north of the city in Hartsdale.
Word of this compassionate act spread, and soon Dr. Johnson received more requests from grieving pet owners. And just like that, America’s first official pet cemetery was born. A 1905 article in The New York Times further cemented its reputation, and today, Hartsdale Pet Cemetery spans five acres and serves as the final resting place for over 70,000 animals. While the wrought-iron gate still reads “Hartsdale Canine Cemetery,” all cherished animal companions are welcome, regardless of species.
Hartsdale isn’t necessarily known for celebrity pet burials, but it does house the remains of pets belonging to famous individuals, including Mariah Carey’s cat, Clarence. Perhaps the most unusual resident is Goldfleck, a lion. Purchased from the Ringling Brothers circus by a Hungarian princess, Goldfleck lived an opulent life with his eccentric owner at the Plaza Hotel in New York, famously lounging in the suite’s bathtub, until his death in 1912. Goldfleck’s white marble headstone, located near the cemetery office, reads: “Beneath this stone is buried the beautiful young lion Goldfleck, whose death was sincerely mourned by his mistress Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy, New York, 1912.”
Horses are cremated before burial at Hartsdale. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Hartsdale welcomes more than just cats and dogs. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Service dogs are honored at Hartsdale. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
“Anything that anyone has ever considered a pet, we have buried here,” says Martin. While dogs and cats are the most common, Hartsdale has also interred rabbits, ferrets, snakes, turtles, guinea pigs, horses (cremated), lizards, monkeys, and even humans. Remarkably, nearly 700 people have chosen to be buried alongside their pets, inurned with their cremated remains. “Here you can have a Jewish cat buried next to a Christian dog,” Martin explains. “There aren’t sections for different animals or different religions—everybody’s all mixed together.” This reflects the unifying power of pet love, transcending human-imposed boundaries.
More Than Just Headstones: A Tapestry of Memorials
Animal imagery is abundant throughout Hartsdale, from bas-relief carvings and etchings to statues and ceramic portraits adorning headstones. The cemetery features two mausoleums, built in 1924 and 2005, and even a dog house-shaped marker adds to the unique landscape. The oldest surviving marker commemorates Dotty, “Beloved pet of E.M. Dodge,” dating back to September 16, 1899. The tallest monument, standing over six feet, is dedicated to Grumpy, a bulldog who passed away in 1926: “His sympathetic love and understanding enriched our lives.”
The centerpiece of Hartsdale Cemetery is the War Dog Memorial, proudly positioned atop a hill. Unveiled in 1923, it features a bronze German Shepherd wearing a blanket with the Red Cross symbol. Dedicated to war dogs, it was “erected by dog lovers to man’s most faithful friend for the valiant services rendered in the World War.” This memorial speaks to the long history of animals serving alongside humans, deserving of honor and remembrance.
The War Dog memorial. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Each June, Hartsdale hosts a ceremony honoring service dogs of all kinds, further emphasizing their commitment to recognizing animal contributions. The cemetery is the final resting place for war dogs like Scamp, a WWII canine soldier, and Joachim, a Vietnam War veteran. Burials of police dogs often draw large crowds, and several cenotaphs pay tribute to dogs who aided in search and rescue after bombings and terrorist attacks. One headstone for Yahtzee, a guide dog, features a portrait of him with his visually-impaired owner and the poignant epitaph: “My Guiding Angel.”
“You don’t have to bury a pet,” Martin acknowledges. While the animals buried here may not be famous in the traditional sense, they undeniably made a significant impact on their owners’ lives – even if some might question the idea of spending considerable sums to memorialize a family lizard.
“People come here and say that their friends and family think they’re crazy for wanting to bury their pet,” Martin shares. “We say, not only are you not crazy, but look at all of the people—since the 1890s—who have felt the same way that you’re feeling right now.” This sentiment underscores the validation and community Hartsdale offers to those who deeply cherish their pets.
A Peaceful Kingdom: More Than Just a Cemetery
Hartsdale serves pet owners from many nearby cities, including pet-loving New York City. “It’s such a pet-friendly city,” Martin says. “But a lot of people don’t have yards, or don’t intend to be in the same place forever. They know this is a safe place for their pet.” For many, Hartsdale provides a sense of permanence and peace of mind.
Families burying a pet at Hartsdale often consider their current pets as well. Family plots, available in various sizes and prices, are common. Smaller plots accommodate cats and small dogs, while larger breeds like Great Danes require XL plots. While Hartsdale cannot bury larger animals whole, the cremated remains of horses are interred there.
Note the matching jackets. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Plot-holders can opt for annual maintenance fees or a one-time perpetual care fund. When pet owners pass away or move, family members sometimes contact Hartsdale to relinquish plots, especially if they didn’t know the pet. If annual fees go unpaid, Hartsdale waits years before exhuming and cremating remains – far longer than the legal minimum. Ashes are scattered on the grounds, and the plot is resold, ensuring the cemetery’s continued operation.
Despite popular misconceptions fueled by fiction, Hartsdale is far from creepy. It truly embodies its nickname, “peaceable kingdom.” Above all, it’s a testament to love, and it’s hard not to be moved by the profound affection people have for their pets while walking through the grounds.
Hartsdale, situated on deeded land and the only pet cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places, theoretically will never run out of space for dignified pet burials. The assurance that a pet’s final resting place will be undisturbed, and not replaced by development, provides great comfort. As long as maintenance fees are paid, “Your pet will be here long after you are gone,” Martin states.
The grounds of Hartsdale in bloom. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
A Rewarding Calling: Honoring the Human-Animal Bond
The Martin family has managed Hartsdale since 1974. Edward Caterson Martin, Sr., father of the current director, Edward Martin, Jr., was a master stone engraver, creating many of the monuments still seen at Hartsdale.
As manager, Brian Martin guides grieving owners through the burial process. Hartsdale offers comprehensive services, including transportation, viewings, headstone assistance, flowers, and grave maintenance. Pets are buried in small wooden or metal caskets, similar to human funerals, only smaller. Hartsdale has a crematory on-site, though no longer family-owned. Animals are buried naturally, without embalming, and viewings are encouraged.
“People are often surprised at how peaceful their pet looks,” Martin says. “I was devastated when my own dog died, so I understand how difficult it is. People constantly thank me for helping them through a very tough time. It’s a very rewarding job.”
Hartsdale remains an active cemetery, averaging one burial per day. The grounds are open daily except New Year’s Day, with holidays being popular visiting times, along with pet birthdays or death anniversaries. Visiting in early May, Easter decorations still adorned some graves, testaments to enduring love.
Hartsdale “provides refuge to visiting pet owners, and a chance to reflect on times past with beloved companions,” writes Hartsdale vice president Edward C. Martin III. “Every day many come, even years later, to express their enduring love.” Hartsdale Pet Cemetery is a real and tangible place where the profound bond between humans and animals is honored and remembered for generations.
Visiting Hartsdale Pet Cemetery
Hartsdale is open, weather permitting, Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sunday 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Holidays 9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., and closed on New Year’s Day. It is a short walk from the Hartsdale Metro North train station.
