This article discusses a potential construction project on a forgotten pet cemetery in Arvada, Colorado, which houses the remains of at least 30 pets. The cemetery, known as Pet Memorial Park, was established in 1957 and has been pending sale for $4 million since 2022.
Historian Jason Marmor finds the site’s redevelopment raises ethical questions about the disregard for the buried pets. He learned about the site while researching another project for the Colorado Department of Transportation and became fascinated by its history, which included headstones from the late 1960s to 1986 for beloved pets.
Over the years, the land changed ownership and was associated with defunct animal associations. Marmor documented that while there were theoretically many burial plots, very few were actually used for pet burials.
He notes that while it’s taboo to build over human graves, pet cemeteries are often forgotten and redeveloped. Many residents, like Kristina Ek, whose family buried multiple pets at the site, express frustration and concern about the lack of communication regarding the future of the cemetery. Marmor concludes by reflecting on the transient nature of such resting places, highlighting the deep bond humans share with their pets.
