The Cat’s Meow: Explore the Cimetière des Chiens, the World’s Oldest Pet Cemetery

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The Cat’s Meow: Explore the Cimetière des Chiens, the World’s Oldest Pet Cemetery
Celebrating International Pet Memorial Day every day, let’s hotfoot it on over a few hot tin roofs to one of my favorite resting spots, nestled in the northwest suburbs of Paris. At 4 Pont de Clichy in Asnières-sur-Seine, the Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques is one of the oldest pet cemeteries in the world. Shrouded in decaying grandeur, it’s the Père-Lachaise of pet cemeteries, and a great place to explore rain or shine. After all, everyone visits Chopin, Balzac, Modigliani, Proust, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Jim Morrison, but who spends time with Fifi and Toto? Meow from the other side After my own sweet kitty left this world for another Fancy Feast, here is where I spent many an hour. Founded in 1899 by lawyer Georges Harmois and journalist Marguerite Durand, the cemetery became a National Landmark in 1987. By creating a final resting place that was not only hygienic, but also scenic and romantic, the zealous pair of animal advocates offered a healthy alternative to the then-common practice of dumping pets in the Seine or in trash bins, or scattering their ashes in the Médici Fountain at the Jardin du Luxembourg. (I’m surprised Marie de Médici didn’t put a hex on them for that!) Field of dreams At first, not everyone was a believer. “The Paris Dog Cemetery is not regarded as a howling success,” one wet blanket journalist punned, not long after it opened its creaking gates for the first time. However, sometimes it’s true that when you build it, they do flock. Within eight years after the launch, 4,000 pets had been buried in the Cimetière des Chiens. By 1934, the number had jumped to an impressive 20,000. Picture postcards were printed, sold, and circulated, showcasing the bantam burial ground in all its dappled glory. Pumping up the publicity volume still more, Marguerite Durand placed advertisements in her own feminist newspaper, La Fronde. Soon, curious, parapluie-toting animal-lover pilgrims and princesses from all over the globe were paying homage to their dearly deceased, shedding serious tears over stones sporting perky-sounding names like “Belle,” “Bijou,” “Bob,” “Daisy,” “Dash,” “Duc,””Drac,” “Kibi,” “Kiss,” “Lov Lov,””Miko,” “Mystico,” “Nini,” “Pépé,” “Pete,” “Pips,” “Pompon,” “Tintinge,” “Tiny,” “Yet Yet,” “Zaza,” and “Zim.” Temple of Love I always love a good pet story, so whenever I spot one, naturally my ears perk up. By now, some 40,000 pets have been buried here, so there’s a tale at every bend. After passing under the Art Nouveau entrance designed by Eugene Petit, I’m greeted by a monument to the heroic Saint Bernard, “Barry.” Between 1800 and 1812, the inscription reads, Barry rescued 40 people caught in blizzards in St. Bernard Pass, a famously dangerous route through the Alps between Italy and Switzerland. Sadly, Barry died while trying to save the life of the 41st victim claimed by the snows. Next, I follow the well-worn dirt path past Barry’s massive monument to enter a maze of moss-covered tombstones, urns, and sculptures dedicated not only to cats and dogs, but also to birds, rabbits, mice, hamsters, horses, monkeys, turtles, fish, sheep, foxes, and at least one shark. Two by Two Dozens of stones later, knee deep in a virtual Noah’s Ark of the Dead, I spy “Dolly,” a savvy parachute jumper and message carrier for the French Resistance in World War II. Close by her is the final resting spot of the original “Rin Tin Tin,” already a hero of the First World War before becoming the ruggedly handsome silent movie star. Continuing the cavalcade of military markers, here too is Napoleon’s favorite three-legged, self-taught boy wonder, “Moustache,” along with Marguerite Durand’s own pet lion, whom she had perversely named “Tiger.” Oh, my. Collapsing on a bench, I sit gazing out on this field of heartfelt gestures. The cemetery will be closing soon, and it’s already getting hard to see the epitaphs in the waning light. Surrounded by all these stone restatements of the human-animal bond, it’s quiet enough to hear a Milk Bone drop. The gurgling of the river passing by on both sides of the island both soothes and re-energizes me at the same time that it makes me pensive. Where is the love?, I wonder. In your lap, I suddenly realize, sitting, always flitting. Rest in peace, little critters, ever more. As one epitaph here wisely put it, “Bijou was not very large but he had good teeth.” Le cimetière des chiens: 4, pont de Clichy, Asnières-sur-Seine. Tel: 01 40 86 21 11. Access by train: gare d’Asnières-sur-Seine, lines L and J. Bus 540-54. Kitty…
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Lead photo credit : Cimetière des Chiens is the Père-Lachaise of pet cemeteries. Image: T. Brack’s archives

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Theadora is a Paris-based writer who has a regular column, called “My Life in Paris," in France Today magazine.

Comments

  • Theresa Lapin
    2022-07-22 02:10:34
    Theresa Lapin
    This is great (and a really fun article)! I'm putting this on my "next time" list.

    REPLY

  • Gloria Picchetti
    2020-10-29 07:13:20
    Gloria Picchetti
    Le Cimetière des Chiens is so beautiful. It's one of my favorite things in France.

    REPLY

  • Gloria Picchetti
    2020-06-22 20:58:26
    Gloria Picchetti
    It's the most magical place. I took photos. A man walked around with me. Then he bought me tea & walked me to the train. Maybe he was an angel.

    REPLY

  • Katie Haig
    2020-06-21 11:38:21
    Katie Haig
    What a wonderful article! Informative, amusing, and emotional all at the same time. I will definitely visit this lovely place of tribute on my next visit to Paris. Thank you for sharing!

    REPLY

  • Richard Scott
    2019-11-01 05:21:20
    Richard Scott
    I shall be visiting Paris next week with my two dogs, we are all looking forward to visiting the pet cemetery it looks amazing.

    REPLY

  • Scott Evans
    2019-08-23 01:35:48
    Scott Evans
    Thank you Theadora for such a wonderful and touching article.

    REPLY