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Reflections: Animal Kingdom Pet Cemetery

Animal Kingdom Pet Cemetery, 2011. Image: Nicholas Fenell

In effort to understand the cemetery and its function to the fullest, I have spent the year visiting cemeteries across the north eastern Ohio region. Recently, I visited a pet cemetery (Animal Kingdom Pet Cemetery) in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. It was very interesting to see the differences in objects left in memory of the deceased. Many graves are very well attended, with plenty of flowers, statuaries, and personal notes/ mementos. The graves date back to 1946, with plenty of land for expansion. Some families buried their pets in a style similar to the family plot with a headstone bearing the last name and markers for each pet/ family member around the family headstone. The variety of pets was far reaching including dog, cat, rabbit, and horse. No matter the species, each marker paid enormous respect to the deceased.

Animal Kingdom Pet Cemetery, 2011. Image: Nicholas Fenell