Vithanage Erandi Kawshalya Madhushani Jade Times Staff
V.E.K. Madhushani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Culture.
Exploring the Deep Bond Between Humans and Their Beloved Animals
A new photography book, Faithful Unto Death, explores the touching and strange world of pet cemeteries. Written by author and photographer Paul Koudounaris, the book delves into the practice of memorializing beloved animals, from elephants and lions to pigeons and snails. Koudounaris spent 11 years documenting the cultural significance of pet cemeteries worldwide, discovering that the devotion people have for their pets transcends species and geography.
1. The First Urban Pet Cemetery
Pet cemeteries have existed in various forms for millennia, but the modern concept as we know it began in the 19th century in England. As more people moved into urban areas during the Industrial Revolution, there was a growing need for spaces to honor their pets. Founded in 1881 in Hyde Park, London, the first urban pet cemetery provided a solution, especially as cremation was not widely accepted by the Church at the time.
2. Service Animals Honored
Service animals are often held in the highest regard in pet cemeteries. In Ilford Animal Cemetery in East London, a grave honors Mary of Exeter, a World War II carrier pigeon that bravely flew dangerous missions across the English Channel. Despite being severely injured by enemy birds of prey, Mary survived and continued her missions, becoming a symbol of resilience and loyalty.
3. The Taboo of Pet Bereavement
In cultures with beliefs in reincarnation, pet death is treated differently. At Wat Khlong Toei Nai, a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, pet owners release their cremated pets' remains into the river in a ceremony that offers closure. In Western cultures, pet bereavement can carry a stigma, with many people feeling embarrassed about their grief. Koudounaris found that cultures embracing reincarnation ease these emotional burdens by normalizing the transference of the soul across different beings.
4. Shep the Dog's Unwavering Vigil
Shep, a loyal Shepherd Collie mix, waited for his owner at Fort Benton railroad station in Montana for six years after his owner’s death. Shep's heartbreaking vigil made him a local legend, and when he passed away, the community buried him on a bluff overlooking the station. Today, his grave remains a symbol of the bond between pets and their owners.
5. Hollywood’s Animal Stars
Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park, founded in 1928, is home to many of Hollywood’s famous animal performers. Tawny, the MGM lion who roared at the start of countless films, shares a grave with a stray tomcat named Cinderella, showing how even animals with vastly different backgrounds can form lasting bonds.
6. Blinky the Headless Chicken
In 1978, artist Jeffrey Vallance took pet cemetery culture to new heights by burying Blinky, a headless supermarket fryer chicken, at Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park. The burial raised questions about how society views certain animals as food while others are cherished companions, challenging cultural norms around animal worth.
7. Activism in Pet Cemeteries
By the 1990s, pet cemeteries became sites for animal rights activism. At Aspin Hill Memorial Park in Maryland, memorials were dedicated to lab rats used in medical experimentation and animals exploited for their fur. These graves serve as reminders of the ethical dilemmas surrounding animal treatment.
8. Off the Grid Pet Graves
In remote areas of South America and the American West, makeshift pet cemeteries have sprung up, often marked by simple painted stones or wooden crosses. These informal graves, existing without official oversight, are poignant symbols of human love for animals. Over time, these graves evolve or fade away, reflecting the temporary yet profound bond between humans and their pets.
Koudounaris's exploration highlights that no matter how different the species, animals that have been loved in life deserve a dignified resting place. This touching tribute to pets shows the universal desire to honor those who gave us companionship and unconditional love.
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