Pet Memorials Began during World War I

Dogs were reported to perform acts of heroism during World War I, when the concept of pet memorials gained wider acceptance. More pets were buried at Hartsdale Pet Cemetery and Crematory, America's oldest pet memorial burial grounds, than during the previous two decades. At the War's end there were more than 2,000 graves at Hartsdale, where pets are buried in pet urns, and pet caskets with pet memorial markers.

Historically, many dogs were reported to perform acts of heroism on the battlefields of World War I. By the end of the War more than 2,000 graves graced the hillside of Hartsdale Pet Cemetary, where pets are buried in pet urns, and pet caskets with pet memorial markers. It was then that the concept of pet memorial and the burial of our pets gained wider acceptance. Hartsdale is America's oldest and most prestigious pet memorial grounds.

Today, cities all across America have pet memorials, and new websites are popping up online that commemorate pets. According to one such company's founder, "People find much peace in putting their family pets to rest," said Colleen Mihelich, Peternity.com.

It was in 1896 when Dr. Samuel Johnson, a prominent New York City veterinarian, offered his apple orchard as a burial plot for his friend's canine companion. Now, there are more than 70,000 pets buried at Hartsdale and many have custom pet memorial stones. The cemetery maintains a state of the art crematory on the grounds along with a separate office and offers a complete range of services such as cremation, pet memorials, pet cremation urns and caskets.

The Directors of the Cemetery donated a sizeable parcel of land to have a memorial monument designed and built by Walter A. Buttendorf. Sculpted by designer and builder Robert Caterson, who had worked on Grand Central Station in New York City, the monument cost $2,500 at the time.

The townspeople said it would be a heroic monument that was supposed to be a "Rustic Boulder executed in 'Rock of Ages' Barre Vermont Granite, surmounted by a heroic statue of a War Dog, Canteen and Helmet in bronze." It was a ten foot tall majestic monument with ten tons of granite from a Vermont quarry, topped with a bronze statue of a handsome German shepherd wearing a Red Cross blanket. At his paws are a bronze helmet and a canteen, and the American flag proudly flies above him. The War Dog Memorial's unveiling was attended by representatives from every nation that foughten during World War I.

This was the final resting place for many heroic war dogs including Chips, the only American war dog to receive military decorations including the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. He served in World War II, and during an invasion of Sicily, Chips stormed an enemy machine gun pillbox. He cornered four soldiers and helped capture 10 men.

Also buried at this cemetery is Boots, a German Shepherd who starred in "Boots and Saddles," a film glorifying this dog. He helped raise over nine million dollars in war bonds.

Refurbished to its original handsome bronze finish in the year 2005 the War Dog memorial stands proud in Westchester.

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