Presidio Cemetery : Departed Pets Rest Below Notes of Love

Ludwig von Beethoven lies next to Stinky. Snuffy Smith is to the left of Kit Carson. Smoochy, Tina, Easy and Pappy are clustered in the sun and Mac, Miss Dusty, Mr. Red and Patty Dog are not far away.

As eternal resting places go, the Presidio Pet Cemetery seems a good place to end up.

About 200 dogs, cats, hamsters and birds repose in peace under eight towering pines. The whole scene would qualify as forest primeval were it not for the gargantuan orange towers and concrete bases of the Golden Gate Bridge approach that abut and dwarf the cemetery.

The headstones, mostly of wood but some of marble, are nestled in tall grass and clover facing the bay. A two-foot-tall white picket fence surrounds the graveyard and an oval of brightly colored artificial flowers greets mourners at the only gate.

‘Never Be Forgotten’

“The Love These Animals Gave Will Never Be Forgotten,” says the official cemetery sign, with a brilliant red heart painted at the bottom.

Although a spokesman at the Presidio Army Museum said he thought the pet cemetery dated back to the turn of the century, all that is known for sure is that the cemetery has existed since at least 1952, the oldest death date observable on any headstone.

The Presidio Pet Cemetery abounds with unabashed declarations of affection on grave markings:

SKIPPER. The best damn dog we ever had.

PEE WEE. Dust to dust. Man to man. We miss him.

A GI PET. He did his time.

DUKE. A good boy. 29 January, 1961--9 November, 1961.

SALLY. The dog who always smiled.

JERRY. 1976. 17 years old. A lovable dog. Goodbye Old Friend.

TROUBLE. 1956-1965. He was no trouble.

Gleaming Teak Marker

Some of the plots are elaborately laid out, and one has a gleaming teak marker, carved with words and a cross and enclosed by a little white plastic fence that looks like wrought iron. Inside the little fence, bright synthetic flowers stand over the remains of “Caesar. 12 Happy Years. 1972-1984.”

One headstone is written in Chinese, another in German. Still another has an original poem and photo of the greatly loved pet buried below:

“RASPBERRY. It’s true my basset has gone away. I know we had to part, but she’ll be with me every day within my loving heart.”

Below the poem is a painted red heart, broken in two with the name Ken inscribed over the top. In the photo, Raspberry is looking into the camera with her mouth open. She is wearing glasses.