A Pet Cemetery Hidden in the Valley
Hidden in the hills of Calabasas, California, lies a cemetery like no other—the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park. Founded in 1928 by veterinarian Dr. Eugene Jones, this 10‑acre park is one of the longest‑continuously‑operating establishments in the area and one of the oldest pet cemeteries in the United States. Nearly 45,000 animals rest within its grounds. A statue of St. Francis of Assisi (the patron saint of animals in Catholicism) stands pensively at the center of the cemetery to welcome visitors. A beautiful mausoleum built in 1929 rises above the property. A crematorium sits a few feet away. Within this sanctuary lie not only the pets of celebrities but also the famous owners themselves—people who chose to rest beside their beloved companions for eternity.
Celebrity Pets, Famous Owners, and Shared Graves
Among them, director Alfred Hitchcock laid five dogs to rest at the park. Bud Abbott also had five dogs; Jimmy Durante, five; Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, six; and Lionel Barrymore, seven dogs and one cat. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall‘s dog, Droopy, also rests there. Silent film heartthrob Rudolph Valentino’s German Shepherd, Kabar, is buried there—Kabar‘s grave remains one of the most visited spots in the cemetery. MGM‘s famous lion, Tawny, who died in 1989, lies beside his beloved companion, Cinderella, a domestic cat. Singer Bing Crosby’s two dogs are also buried here. Mae West‘s monkey, Peter Lorre’s cat, Tarzan‘s chimpanzee, Charlie Chaplin’s cat—all lie quietly under the same southern California soil. And Punkie, Shadow, Bubsie, and others rest alongside actress Betty Grable.
Perhaps most unusual of all: a pet alligator named “Are You Happy Harry” interred in 1941. The park considers him its most unusual resident. Even more striking is that this pet cemetery holds not only celebrity pets but also the famous owners of famous pets. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Mae West, Jimmy Durante, and Bob Hope’s wife all found eternal rest here for their beloved companions.
From Pet Graves to Luxury Brands
Recently, luxury jewelers have also recognized the emotional value in pet memorials. Buccellati, one of Italy‘s oldest jewelers, has begun designing for an entirely different kind of client—those who do not speak, but who are the most inseparable companions in their owners’ lives: aging dogs and elderly cats. The brand tailors tiny collars or miniature headstones just a few centimeters long. Murphy notes: “In these pieces, the imperfections of natural stones are no longer flaws. Instead, they symbolize the unique emotional depth of an animal’s life.“ This mirrors the artistic philosophy behind pet tombstones.
Eternal Love After Death: Movie Star Buried in Pet Cemetery
In early 2026, it was revealed that Shera Danese, widow of Peter Falk (star of Columbo), had served as president of the park‘s board of directors for the past 10 years. When she married Falk, they brought their dogs to be buried here. For them, these pet tombstones are not just sleeping places for pets, but an emotional anchor in their later years. Actress Deborah Kerr also buried her beloved dogs beneath the lawn. Some visitors bring a small bouquet each time they visit, adding color and love to weathered stones.
Why Celebrities and Ordinary People Weep the Same Tears Before a Pet Tombstone
Tears shed by celebrities before a tombstone are no different from anyone else’s. No one escapes grief when a pet dies. Before a pet tombstone, the sorrow of a famous person and that of an ordinary person run equally deep. So even a world‑renowned director will lay five dogs to rest under the lawn of his estate. He arranges their urns neatly, keeping a small shadow of his pets for a long time. This tells us: love knows no fame. Whether you are known to the world or not, the emotions carved into a pet’s tombstone are just as pure.