I’ve spent a lot of time wandering through old cemeteries and graveyards. You can tell a lot about a community by the way it takes care of its dead. You can get a feel for who the prominent families were and be amused by some of the tombstone inscriptions.
I get a lump in my throat when I get to the sections set aside for kids, particularly in the older cemeteries where some of the homemade markers incorporate the child’s marbles or jacks.
When the kids were little, we took off cross-country and made a detour to see the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard just outside Tuscambia, Al. Follow the link to see more markers like High Pockets, above, and read an account of a misunderstanding that could only happen out in the country.
Cape Girardeau’s Cedar Hills Pet Cemetery
If I’d traipse all over Alabama, surely I’d pull off Big Bend Rd. to take a look at the Cedar Hills Pet Cemetery in Cape. It’s a bit plain looking, but it’s neatly kept.
The Coon dog Cemetery (originally called Graveyard), was founded in 1937, when Key Underwood buried Troop, so it’s had a lot more time to get that old-time feeling. The Cape cemetery is only about a couple decades old.
Only coon dogs allowed in Coon Dog Cemetery
Another big difference is that the Cedar Hills Pet Cemetery appears not to discriminate. They’ll even take, god forbid, cats. [Editor’s note: that was meant tongue-in-cheek. Our back yard is so full of cats that I don’t know where we’ll plant the next one when the time comes.]
The Alabama site has strict rules: “A dog can’t run no deer, possum — nothing like that. He’s got to be a straight coon dog, and he’s got to be full hound. Couldn’t be a mixed up breed dog, a house dog.”
Cremations, urns and caskets
Cedar Hill’s website says they offer a full range of products and services. A crematory was supposed to open in Spring of 2010, to handle the 75% of services that involve cremations these days. They’ll also sell you urns or caskets for your pet.
The Missourian’s Bridget DiCosmo did a story about Cedar Hills in 2009.
Gallery of Cedar Hill Pet Cemetery Photos
Click on any photo to enlarge it, then click on the left or right side of the image to move through the gallery.
I used to have an old buddy whose ex-wife and her next husband operated a pet cemetery a few counties north of Cape. One day they sold the property. The bereaved who could be found were notified that the property was going for a different use and if they wanted their beloved pet’s remains, they should come get them.
I have a lump, too, Ken.
we have put 4 dogs to sleep this year.– all dogpound dogs–cancer congenative heart disease, etc. all 16,17 years old. Sad year– Told my wife– That’s it– No more. 2 months ago we went to the pound– 2 adorable 8 month old mutts sisters were adopted. What a joy. Rick Ebaugh ’68
Rick, you and your wife must have hearts of gold to adopt pets that are in such desperate need of love and care. We just had one dog put down, and it’s breaking my heart. I can’t imagine losing 4 dogs in one year.
God bless both of you and the fur babies that you hold so dear.
Ken, let me tell you, up here in North Georgia, coon dogs get almost as much respect as someone’s mother! There is an adorable elderly gentleman who at the age of 87 still sells his produce at the Farmer’s Market. He loves to tell you the story of his beloved coon hound. He stops every Saturday to ask if our Shih Tzus would make good coon hounds (tongue in cheek) just so he can tell us about his dog again.
I am the owner of Cedar Hills Pet Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. I acquired the cemetery from the local Humane Society in 2001. My husband and I open The Hill Pet Crematory in 2010/2011 at our home in northern Cape County. We now cremate more than 25 pets each week. http://Www.TheHilPet.com. The cemetery is still open and burials happen each month. However, the cemetery now floods with the rising Mississippi, but is deeded to always remain a pet cemetery for those who have pets buried there or would like to in the future.
I didn’t think the land where that’s located is that low. I’ll have to check it out next time I’m in the neighborhood.