Faithful Unto Death: Pet cemeteries, animal graves, and eternal devotion [Hardcover]

When a little dog named Cherry died in 1881, his owners arranged for a grave in a nearby gatekeeper's garden in London. At this time, the idea that a pet, even one that had lived as a family member, might be given a dignified burial was considered comical. But when other pet ownerslikewise determined to memorialize their companion animalsfollowed suit, the world's first urban pet cemetery was born. More soon followed across Europe, the United States, and then the rest of the world, resulting in a revolution in the way we consider animals.The remarkable stories of beloved petsfrom the famous and unusual to the everydaymemorialized at burial sites around the world, accompanied by a rich selection of archival photos and the author's evocative images of their final resting places. Dogs bury bones and we bury dogsbut why? In his passionately researched answer, Paul Koudounaris?offers the same reverence?to the rural pet cemeteries?of RV-owners as he does the granite mausoleums of?Gilded Age millionaires. A poignant and moving celebration of mankind's animal companions that is sure to touch the hearts of anyone who reads it. Koudounaris reminds us that grief can cross the boundaries of species, and that the pain we suffer when a beloved pet dies is equal to the love we shared while they were alive. By exploring how different cultures throughout history celebrate and commemorate life and death, Paul Koudounaris?has provided us with a unifying perspective through his research, travels, and photo documentation. He makes the very taboo subject of death seem less fearful, and, dare I say, entertaining! A book that is the first of its kind, A book focused on pet cemeteries as physical reflections of our ever-evolving relationships with our animal companions would be interesting enough, but Thoroughly researched . . . With archival photos and illustrations featured alongside Koudounaris' portraits of headstones and informal altars, Perfect for history buffs and animal lovel££