Hartsdale Pet Cemetery Holds Tree Light Ceremony December 21 To Honor Memories of All Pet Animals

HARTSDALE, NY December 10, 2008 – Hartsdale Pet Cemetery will conduct its annual tree lighting ceremony to honor the memories of all pet animals on Sunday December 21 at l pm at the cemetery's front gate entrance at 75 Central Park Avenue in Hartsdale.

"I can't tell you how many people look for forward to this annual event," said Edward Martin Jr., the cemetery director since 1974. "We've been doing this for more than 20 years now. It's our way of helping keep the memory of pets alive. We have people who come year after year."

Martin said he expects more than 150 people and their pets to attend the tree lighting and ceremonies. The public is encouraged to attend along with their pets. The Reverend David James will participate in the ceremony.

As part of the occasion, the cemetery is asking for donations of packaged pet foods and pet clothing from plot-holders and from the general public. The food and clothing will be donated to local animal shelters in Westchester and Rockland counties that attend the ceremony.

Among the shelters that will benefit are the ASPCA (New York City), Mount Vernon Animal Shelter, Elmsford Animal Shelter, Yonkers Animal Shelter, New Rochelle Humane Society, Westchester Shore Animal Shelter, Hudson Valley Humane Society (Pomona), Cat Assistance, Inc. (Ardsley), Pet Rescue (Larchmont), Just Strays, Inc. (Yonkers), Second Chance Pet Society, Inc. (Suffern), and Little Orphans Animals, Inc. (Peekskill).

"Several years ago several plot-holders who wanted to do something special for their deceased pets during the holiday season came to us," Martin said. "The result is that today we have already received orders for more than 1400 wreaths and blankets to be placed on pet grave sites."

The Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, known worldwide as The Peaceable Kingdom in Hartsdale, has long been a place where the bonds of unconditional love between humans and animals are honored and remembered. Nearly 70,000 animals since 1896 are interred at the Hartsdale Peter Cemetery in Westchester, the oldest pet burial ground in the country. Last year 700 animals were buried and 31,000 animals were cremated there.

For additional information about Hartsdale Pet Cemetery & Crematory, call 914-949-2583, toll-free 800-375-5234. Visit the website at www.petcem.com [1].