As in life, in death our pets bring out the best in us

As in life, in death our pets bring out the best in us and nowhere is it more obvious than at Sydney’s only dedicated pet cemetery.

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In Sydney’s only dedicated pet cemetery, Muslim pets buried facing Mecca lie next to Catholic, Buddhist and Jewish dogs and cats.

There are no specific areas for religions here and no one seems to mind, said Shane McGraw, who’s run the Animal Memorial Cemetery and Crematorium with his wife Katrina for 20 years.

“I could have a dog facing Mecca in one grave, and then a Buddhist dog in the next grave, and a Catholic dog or an Orthodox dog all right next to each other,” Mr McGraw said.

“Traditionally some of these people might not have got on. It just doesn’t matter when they get here.”

Cats and dogs, however, are a different matter.

“The dog section has cats in it but we do have a little cat section for people who don’t want their cats anywhere near a dog,” Mr McGraw said.

Shane McGraw has been operating Sydney's only dedicated pet cemetery with his wife Katrina since 1999. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

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Every race, religion, sexuality and profession — including politicians — are represented by their beloved pets at the five-acre cemetery at Berkshire Park in Sydney’s north west, which was opened in 1967 by Ed and Noreen Jessop.

“Honestly anything you can think of in a human cemetery that people might do for humans, you’ll find they’ll do for pets,” said Mr McGraw, who’s buried thousands of creatures at the park.

“I’ve got dogs buried where people come in and burn prayer money for them so they can get into heaven.

“I’ve buried horses, I’ve cremated a few cows, pet sheep, pet goats, kangaroos, any animal you can think of almost other than lions and tigers I’ve cremated or buried. Even chickens.”

While in mostly Muslim countries, people tend not to have dogs, in Australia it’s not as uncommon, and like other clients at the cemetery, have laid their pet to rest in line with their religious beliefs.

Some faiths opt to use the chapel where pets can be viewed before burials or cremations, and it’s not unusual for owners to hold end-of-life ceremonies complete with ministers, music and other pets in attendance.

One of the most elaborate was a recent Buddhist ceremony for a german shepherd.

“They bought a beautiful coffin, they had the monks come from the temple and do some chanting and different things,

they would have spent $2000 just on flowers,” he said.

“Then they had 150 roses on the coffin itself and then three or four huge wreaths on stands.”

Rover Burns of Campsie is interred with his master Claude Williams.

The grave of Flicka, the horse who lived more than 40 years. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

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The love for animals is expressed freely here — the epitaphs both emotional and humorous.

There are tributes to “our cheeky little fatty”, “cherished friend”, “darling baby”, even a little dog adored for his “sexy legs and wiggly hips”. There are family plots where consecutive pets are buried, some owners have even had their own ashes interred with their pets on passing.

Mr McGraw said every owner was different and while some preferred a simple cremation, which cost about $300, or an unmarked burial plot in the lawn for about $700, others spent thousands on elaborate graves.

The most expensive so far cost about $20,000 and includes a life-size bronze statue of a dog called Paige.

“I’ve seen some very touching things out here at funerals for animals,” he said.

“I’ve seen guys write letters from their dogs to themselves, almost thanking himself but from his dog’s point of view. I’ve had people that look like they’ve just got out of jail with tattoos all over their heads and faces, bawling their eyes out.

“Anyone whose got a pet out here, whether it was very young or very old, you know it was well looked after. If they end up here, they had good owners.”

‘Forever in our hearts’. A ‘family plot’ of pets at the Berkshire Park cemetery. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

The McGraws, who are devoted dog owners, understand the emotional bonds between humans and animals and treat every pet with the utmost respect.

“We don’t have kids ourself and our dog may as well be the child that never left home,” he said. “My wife would mortgage the place if our dog got sick and needed it.”

And like any significant relationship, the ritual of a proper send-off is an important part of the grieving process, as is the peace of mind knowing where they are.

“People want to know their animal is laid to rest in respect, not just sent to the tip.”

Originally published as As in life, in death our pets bring out the best in us