This past summer, I attended my first pet funeral at the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park in Calabasas (formerly known as the Los Angeles Pet Cemetery), and it completely transformed how I think about saying goodbye to our beloved companions. My dear friend had just lost her best friend Linus, an adorable mutt who had been by her side for 12 year, and watching her find comfort in this peaceful sanctuary showed me why this historic cemetery has become such an important part of the Los Angeles landscape for grieving pet parents.
A Sacred Space for Dog Moms and Pet Parents
Living in LA, we understand that our pets aren’t just animals, they’re family members who love us unconditionally. The Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park, established in 1928, honors that sacred bond with the dignity and respect our fur babies deserve.
Located in the serene hills of Calabasas, this 10-acre cemetery offers something truly special that you won’t find in most things to do in Los Angeles guides: a place where grief is honored, memories are preserved, and love never dies. For anyone who has lost a pet, having a physical place to visit and feel close to your best friend again is an invaluable gift during the healing process.
Why Choose Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park
Watching my friend navigate her grief, I witnessed firsthand how meaningful it was to have a beautiful, permanent resting place for Linus. The cemetery offers several compelling reasons why it’s become the preferred choice for LA pet parents:
A Place to Visit and Remember: My friend visits Linus every few weeks, and she says it helps her process the loss while celebrating the joy he brought to her life. The tranquil space provides comfort that other options simply can’t offer.
Dignified Services: The compassionate staff understands that losing a fur baby is losing a family member. They offer funeral services, cremation options, and burial plots that honor your pet’s memory with genuine respect.
Beautiful Grounds: The meticulously maintained gardens feature shade trees, peaceful pathways, and touching memorials that create an atmosphere of serenity and healing.
Hollywood History: Famous Pets Laid to Rest
One unique aspect of this cemetery is its connection to Hollywood history. Among the famous pets buried here are Hopalong Cassidy’s horse Topper, Rudolph Valentino’s Great Dane Kabar, Humphrey Bogart’s dog, Charlie Chaplin’s cats, and numerous animal actors from Hollywood’s golden age to modern productions.
Walking through the grounds, you’ll find elaborate headstones and touching epitaphs for all kinds of pets, including horses, lions, and other exotic animals. Each headstone is a testament to the profound impact these animals had on their humans’ lives. Only in Los Angeles would you find a pet cemetery with such rich entertainment history, where your beloved companion might rest near legendary animal stars.
A Uniquely LA Experience
For my friend, the cemetery became part of her grief journey. She initially worried that having a funeral for a dog might seem excessive, but the moment we arrived, those fears vanished. The beauty of the location, the kindness of the staff, and the sight of hundreds of other memorials made it clear: this love is real, this grief is valid, and our fur babies deserve to be remembered.
When I think about things to do in LA, I rarely consider places that offer emotional healing and genuine comfort—but that’s exactly what this cemetery provides. It’s this blend of reverence for animals, connection to entertainment history, and genuine compassion that makes it such a special place.
Whether you’re a longtime dog mom or someone who considers their pet their best friend, knowing that a place like this exists offers peace of mind. The Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park offers pre-planning services, various burial options, cremation services with memorial options, and personalized headstones.
Attending that funeral changed my perspective on pet loss. The Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park isn’t just a cemetery—it’s a sanctuary for memories, a testament to love, and a uniquely Los Angeles treasure that understands our fur babies are family, and their memory deserves to live on forever.
Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park is located at 5068 Old Scandia Lane, Calabasas, CA 91301. This is one of those special things to do in LA that reminds us what truly matters—love, memory, and the companions who make our lives infinitely better.
