Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park

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One location that I have wanted to stalk ever since first moving to Southern California in 2000 was the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park in Calabasas.  For whatever reason, though, in over twelve years time, I had never made it out there.  Then, this past September, while gathering addresses for my annual Haunted Hollywood stalkings, I was reminded of the locale, immediately added it to my To-Stalk list and dragged the Grim Cheaper right on over there just a few days later.

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What I was not expecting was how humongous and absolutely beautiful the place is!

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Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park (12 of 33)

The location, which was first called the Los Angeles Pet Cemetery, was founded by a veterinarian to the stars named Dr. Eugene C. Jones.  The land was originally owned by Gilbert H. Beesemyer, the one-time general manager of L.A.’s Guaranty Building and Loan Association, from which he fleeced $8 million in 1929.  Shortly before he was caught and hauled off to prison to serve a 40-year term, Beesemyer began selling off his property in ten-acre plots.  One of those plots was purchased by Dr. Jones, who wanted to build a pet cemetery on the site to help his clients deal with their grief over the loss of their beloved pets.

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Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park (16 of 33)

Los Angeles Pet Cemetery was officially opened on September 4th, 1928.  That same year, Dr. Jones also opened a pet funeral parlor and viewing room on Highland Avenue in Hollywood.  Jones’ mother and brother were in charge of driving the pets – in an actual hearse – from the parlor to the cemetery for the elaborate funerals that took place there.  The funeral parlor was later moved onsite in 1969.

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Dr. Jones constructed the cemetery’s brick mausoleum, which contains a crematory and a columbarium, in 1929.

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Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park (23 of 33)

The mausoleum underwent a $175,000-renovation in 2003, during which 450 new niches;

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and the “Waiting Garden” area were added.

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Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park (21 of 33)

I absolutely loved walked through the mausoleum and reading the sweet inscriptions for pets who had passed away as long ago as 1940.

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Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park (28 of 33)

I also absolutely fell in love with the adorable stained glass designs in the mausoleum windows.

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Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park (25 of 33)

The image of the two cats with the intertwined tails broke my heart.

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In 1973, after he retired, Jones donated the cemetery to the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.  Ten years later, in a maddening move that I still do not completely understand, the SPCA decided to sell the land to a developer who had plans to raze the cemetery.  Thankfully, a group of concerned pet owners gathered together to form S.O.P.H.I.E. (Save Our Pets’ History in Eternity).  S.O.P.H.I.E. managed to raise $100,000 to purchase the park and then lobbied for – and passed! – a state law which prevents pet cemeteries from ever being developed or destroyed.  Today, Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park serves as the final resting place for over 42,000 beloved animals of all varieties, including lizards, chimpanzees, horse, ferrets, goats, pigs, and one lion.

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Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park (7 of 33)

Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park has become the final resting place for quite a few celebrity pets, including those of Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson, Aaron Spelling, Bob Barker, Humphrey Bogart, Charlie Chaplin, Steven Spielberg, Bob Newhart, Adam Sandler, Diana Ross, William Shatner, Lauren Bacall, Mary Pickford, Harry James, Eva Gabor, Mae West, and Lionel Barrymore.

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Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park (4 of 33)

Some of the animals buried there are even celebrities themselves.  Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park is the final resting place of both Hopalong Cassidy’s horse, Topper,and  Tonto’s horse from the Lone Ranger, Scout.  Unfortunately, because the cemetery is so humongous we were unable to locate either gravesite.

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Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park (11 of 33)

In a December 2009 Los Angeles Times article, Stephanie LaFarge, senior director of counseling services for Urbana, Illinois’ ASPCA Animal Health Services, is quoted as saying, “Pet cemeteries tend to be utterly beautiful, joyful places.  I don’t know what it is – the markings on the gravestones or the pictures of something.”  And she is absolutely right!  While the GC and I did find ourselves tearing up at some of the heartfelt messages written on headstones (like the one below), we also felt an immense sense of joy and love walking through the park.

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It was absolutely heartwarming to see the countless flowers decorating the various gravesites and to know that these precious animals are still loved and visited all these years later.  I honestly cannot recommend stalking the place enough.

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Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park (8 of 33)

You can find me on Facebook here and on Twitter at @IAMNOTASTALKER. And be sure to check out my other blog, The Well-Heeled Diabetic.

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Until next time, Happy Stalking!  Smile

Stalk It: Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park is located at 5068 Old Scandia Lane in Calabasas.  The cemetery is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays and holidays from 8 a.m. to dusk.  The office is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  You can visit the official Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park website here.

The Red Robin Restaurant from “Newlyweds”

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While Mike, from MovieShotsLA, and I were out doing some Valley stalking a couple of months ago, we decided to made a pit stop at the Red Robin restaurant in Calabasas for lunch.  Even though I am not now nor never have been a big Jessica Simpson fan, I had been dying to stalk the restaurant ever since it had appeared in a Season Three episode of the Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson reality series Newlyweds.   Truth be told, though, I was really just using the fact that the restaurant had appeared on TV as an excuse to eat there, as Red Robin has long been my very favorite place to dine.  🙂  In fact, until POP Champagne Bar came on the scene late last year, Red Robin was literally the only place I ever wanted to eat.  For those who have never had the pleasure of dining at a Red Robin location, let me just say here that the eatery serves up some of the BEST chicken strips (aka “Clucks”) I’ve ever tasted in my entire life, their fries are out of this world, and don’t even get me started on the ranch dressing!!!  🙂   So, when I randomly mentioned to Mike that I had always wanted to stalk the Red Robin from Newlyweds, and he not only knew its exact location, but said we happened to be right in its vicinity, I just about died from excitement and begged him to take me there.  Which he happily did.  🙂 

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In the Season 3 episode of Newlyweds entitled “Eye Surgery”, Jessica Simpson and BFF Cacee Cobb have Lasik surgery performed on their eyes – and yes, the entire procedure is shown, in very high detail I might add – on the show.  I was literally gagging while watching it!  In fact, after seeing the surgery in such an up-close-and-personal format like that, I don’t think I will ever in my life sign up for Lasik.  LOL  But I digress!  After the procedure, Jessica mentions that she could really go for a burger and the two make a stop at the nearest Red Robin restaurant.  Because the girls are forced to wear post-surgery eye goggles, which severely inhibit their vision, several comical moments take place during the course of the meal.

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My favorite of which being when Jessica drowns her plate in about three pounds of ketchup, and then, not realizing  how much she had poured, asks Cacee, “Do I have enough for my burger?”  LOL LOL LOL   

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In the episode, Jessica also had a little trouble walking up the restaurant’s front steps, so Mike suggested that I imitate her while he took a picture.  LOVE IT!  🙂 

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While we were eating, I mentioned to Mike that I wished I could remember the spot where Jessica and Cacee sat during the episode, to which he replied, “Oh, I know their exact booth!”  And that right there is why he is one of my best friends!!! 🙂  For those who are curious, Jessica and Cacee sat in the furthest corner booth of the restaurant’s Eastern side (pictured above).  

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It should be no surprise that I HIGHLY recommend stalking the Red Robin restaurant from Newlyweds!  🙂  I also highly recommend ordering the Clucks & Fries meal while there.  Trust me on this one, you will NOT be disappointed!!!     🙂

Until next time, Happy Stalking!  🙂

Stalk It: The Red Robin restaurant from Newlyweds is located at 24005 Calabasas Road in Calabasas.