Ferncliff Pet Cemetery

The pet section of Ferncliff Cemetery and Arboretum will have its own name as well as benches, landscaping and more when upgrades are scheduled to be completed later this fall.

The cemetery broke ground on the improvements in September, with hopes that it will be done by Nov. 1.

“It’s all weather dependent,” says Melinda Massie, a family services staff member at the cemetery, located at 501 W. McCreight Ave.

The cemetery’s pet area opened in 2018 and is the final resting place for about 60 animals, she says. This includes mostly dogs and cats, but also a rabbit. Large animals up to 200 pounds can be buried there as well, and service animals with proof of service can get a free plot, Massie says.

The updates will give families an easier way of identifying the pet section and visiting their deceased animals.

“Right now, people have difficulty identifying where it’s at,” Massie says.

The pet portion is comprised of 3 of the cemetery’s 218 acres, says Shelley Baker, executive director of the cemetery. It is located in the southwest part of the cemetery, not far from Buck Creek.

The upgrades, which are expected to cost at least $250,000, also include dedicated, accessible parking near the pet cemetery, Baker says.

The name of pet portion of the cemetery hasn’t yet been determined, but she says that it will reflect the peace and tranquility of the area.

The cemetery’s mission is to provide end-of-life services where everybody is welcome, Baker says, and pets are a large part of people’s lives.

“Being able to take care of every member of the family is important, because pets are so important,” Baker says.

Pet funerals often include a poem, and some families bring music or a minister, Massie says. Families might say a few words before they say goodbye.

Massie provides pet families with emotional support so they know they aren’t alone.

“It’s just like losing a family member,” she says. “You still go through those grief stages.”