Mar

Resting in Peace at the Paris Pet Cemetery

by Meredith Mullins on March 12, 2018

Tombstone for Keisha, filled with flowers and trinkets, showing the cultural traditions of pet lovers in the Paris pet cemetery. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Lamenting an irreplaceable love
© Meredith Mullins

Cultural Traditions that Honor our Best Friends . . . in Surprising Ways

From a distance, this peaceful resting place by the Seine near Paris looks like any other cemetery—a sea of tombstones, some polished and new and some devoured by time.

Paris Pet Cemetery, showing cultural traditions of pet lovers. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

A resting place to honor our friends
© Meredith Mullins

There are flowers of remembrance (plastic, ceramic, and real), pictures of loved ones, and heartfelt tributes.

Trinkets on the grave of Moustique at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Many ways to say I love you
© Meredith Mullins

It is only when you move closer that the hints of another world appear.

Dora, Panache, Elvis, Milou, Fleur, Sweety, DouDou, Bijou, Oscar, Spikey, Mitsy, Kiki (lots of Kiki’s), Nanette, Tootsie, Whisky, Faust, Drac, and Poupette.

Tombstone for Elvis at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for pet lovers who have lost their pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Elvis . . . “Your mother will never forget you.”
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They are all gathered here . . . in one of the oldest pet cemeteries in the world. The Paris Cemetery of Dogs (and other domestic animals) is a dramatic reminder of the cultural traditions that honor our furry, hairy, wooly, and feathered friends—often named our “best friends.”

A carved cat on a tombstone in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Sleeping in peace
© Meredith Mullins

Oh, I see. The depth of love for pets knows no bounds. This is not news, especially to animal lovers. But the joy of having had a loyal friend and the pain of losing that friend make a visit to this cemetery especially touching. The tributes are consistently emotional. These pets will be remembered forever.

Tombstone for Argos in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for remembering your pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Argos seems to live on.
© Meredith Mullins

Cimitière des Chiens

The name Cimitière des Chiens is a bit of a misnomer, since the cemetery houses cats, horses, a sheep, a chicken, birds, mice, fish, hamsters, rabbits, and a monkey.

The unofficial “And Other Domestic Animals” was added as a nod to animal equality. The well-kept grounds by the Seine are the final resting place for more than 40,000 pets.

Tombstone with a horseshoe at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

An equal opportunity cemetery
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The land was acquired by journalist Marguerite Durand and attorney Georges Harmois, and the grounds opened in 1899, after a law was introduced in France that prohibited throwing dead animals into the river (or into the trash).

Tombstone with large carved dog at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

A proud history
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Aside from that kind of tragic farewell, pet owners were allowed to bury their pets as long as the grave was 100 meters from the nearest dwelling. But animal advocates Harmois and Durand wanted something more. They wanted a scenic place that would honor pets—such an important part of people’s lives.

Carved dog on tombstone in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for pet lovers. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Carved in memory
© Meredith Mullins

Stories of Compassion

The words of the epitaphs, as well as the visuals and objects selected to grace the tombstones, tell the stories of these loyal companions.

Tennis balls on tombstone in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Arry . . . Enough said
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Tales of love . . .

To our dear adored Emjie, our great love, who gave us joy and happiness with her intelligence, sensibility, and affection. She was a heart covered with fur. Six kilograms of pure love. We will never forget you.

To my affectionate hen, who lived 16 years, faithful inseparable companion mourned by your mistress who remains inconsolable. To you I was attached. You will never be forgotten. Regretfully, R.O.C.

Carved poodle on a tombstone in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Beloved Bibi—13 years of intimate tenderness
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Poetry and philosophy . . .

For the regal collie, Rigadin de Pechinecha—You have beauty without vanity, strength without insolence, courage without ferocity, intelligence without arrogance, and all the virtues of men without their perversions.

Tombstone for a collie at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

None of the perversions of man
© Meredith Mullins

Practicality and truth . . .

Bijou was not very large but he had good teeth.

Here rests Brother Bill. A true friend. He has many blue ribbons to his credit.

Tombstone with flowers in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

“He loved only me.”
© Meredith Mullins

The pain of death . . .

Here lies Dick, faithful companion in the trenches who was always my only friend. He lived a model life and his leaving plunges me into sadness . . . And so I am all alone, no longer believing in anything.

And a final farewell to Kiki the monkey—Sleep my dear. You were the joy of my life.

Tombstone for Kiki the monkey at the Paris Pet Cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Farewell Kiki
© Meredith Mullins

Some of the stories challenge the far edges of the imagination.

Kinshasa de Cabotcove Coon was a cat with the intelligence of a primate. She could drink with her paw. If you find this hard to believe, there are photos on the tombstone to prove her evolved nature.

Grave of Kinshasa de Cabotcove Coon at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The intelligence of Kinshasa de Cabotcove Coon
© Meredith Mullins

The celebrities of the cemetery include

the original Rin Tin Tin, who was found by an American soldier during WW I in France and who went on to become an American film star (the dog, not the soldier)
Celebrity sighting: the tomb of film star Rin Tin Tin
© Meredith Mullins
the racehorse Troy Town
honored police dogs and military dogs
Napoleon’s dog Moustache
Drac, the dog of the Princess of Romania from 1941–1953 (Loyal companion during tragic times. Precious friend in exile.)
a white horse and a lion (named Tiger) belonging to the founder Marguerite Durand. (Tiger’s naming convention perhaps mirrors the dog named Kitty found a few rows over.)

Statue to Barry the St Bernard at the Paris Pet Cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The imposing statue at the cemetery entrance portrays the legendary mountain rescue dog Barry, who, over the period of his life, saved 40 people from blizzards near the St Bernard pass in the Alps of Switzerland.

The memorial says Barry was killed saving the 41^st person to be rescued. Although this plotline is a film-worthy story, it is apparently untrue. Barry died a natural death at age 14 . . . always a hero.

Gates to the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The Art of the Cemetery

The emotional impact of this cemetery is powerful. For me, also, there are several “Oh, I see” artistic moments.

From the Art Nouveau entrance gates to the artfully sculpted likenesses of those buried, leaning in and peering closely at the detail is rewarding.

Two sculpted dogs on a grave in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Many of the tombs are stone doghouses or free-form sculptures.

Doghouse tombstone with cat sculpture at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

And, as with all art subject to the elements, nature adds some beautiful touches. Names embossed in moss, mosaic deterioration, and carvings changing with time like rocks washed by an ocean.

Cat deteriorating by the elements at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

After spending a few hours in the emotional arc of this poignant setting, the cultural traditions surrounding pet lovers give good insight into the idea of love.

And it becomes clear that love lives beyond death.

Tombstone honoring Love at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions related to pet lovers' farewell to their pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The Cimitière des Chiens is at 4, pont de Clichy, Asnières-sur-Seine.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Meredith Mullins 8 Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/France (Paris)

Comments:

8 thoughts on “Resting in Peace at the Paris Pet Cemetery”

TNflash on July 9, 2018 at 6:50 am said:

Beautiful historical pet cemetery. We humans do love our pets. I read that in the United States we spend more on our pets than we do on our children. It is estimated that 72.13 billion US dollars will be spent in 2018. 715 million was spent for Valentine pet gifts. They probably do not care but it makes us feel good giving gifts to them.
- Meredith Mullins on July 9, 2018 at 7:39 am said:
  
  Bonjour … and thank you for writing. Wandering the Paris pet cemetery, it becomes very obvious how much we love our pets and how much happiness they bring into our lives. Sad, too, that they will almost always pass on before us since their life span is shorter. We know from the start that there will be a parting.
  
  With best wishes,
  Meredith
Natalia on March 20, 2018 at 4:16 am said:

Lovely piece, Meredith, and the photos bring it to life. It was a pleasure to meet you on Sunday.
All the best,
- Meredith Mullins on March 20, 2018 at 10:26 am said:
  
  Hi Natalia,
  Thank you for commenting. I’m glad you got a preview of the pet cemetery (virtually). Nice to meet you also. (And the cabinet changed my life! Love it.)
  
  All best,
  
  Meredith
Peggy Hines on March 12, 2018 at 4:42 pm said:

Nicely done, Meredith. Wish I could bring my Misty’s ashes over to France to go in that lovely cemetery. The ode to the collie describes my sheltie. What a beautiful place! Now I must go and weep.

Thank you, Peggy
- Meredith Mullins on March 13, 2018 at 6:03 am said:
  
  This poignant place brings the past, present, and future together in a very special way. I, too, admit to weeping a bit. Thanks for writing. Meredith
Judy Tatelbaum on March 12, 2018 at 9:53 am said:

Oh Meredith!
This is so heartfelt and wonderful!
Beautifully conceived. Love, Judy
- Meredith Mullins on March 12, 2018 at 1:22 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Judy. This peaceful place was a wonderful reminder of the many meanings of love. A good message for this particular time in the world. All best, Meredith

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